CONTACTING OUR GROUP ORGANISERS:

OUR CHAIR: Sue Hill - susanmaryhill56@icloud.com, mobile:07970311329 OUR WALK COORDINATOR: EILEEN INGHAM - 07952241775, 01142814414

MEMBERS INFORMATION

David and Paul would like to say THANK YOU

Thank you to all the members who have supported the Tuesday walks offered in 2023. It means a lot to us to have your support, and makes it all worthwhile.
Plans for 2024 are already in progress, and we are hoping to branch out again as we did in 2023. This means journeys will be longer than others but we feel it will be worthwhile.

Thank you again
David and Paul

From Gail: There is quite a lot of work for David and Paul, in planning a walk each month, and the walks are very popular, so thank you from members of SVIWG for all your efforts.

APRIL 2023 - WEBSITE MANAGER NEEDED

After over 15 years of dedicated service setting up and maintaining our website, Christine has decided it is time for her to have a well deserved rest and let someone else take on the job. We need someone with the technical knowledge and expertise to maintain and potentially improve our website.
REWARD: A wealth of job satisfaction knowing you are making a valuable contribution to the largest and most successful VIP walking group in the UK. If interested in the first instance please contact Sue on tel: 07970311329 or email susanmaryhill56@icloud.com.
Please note this is a voluntary role.

THE CHESTERFIELD CANAL TRUST website has a number of circular walking routes available on their website. Go to www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk The walks are under the heading 'Off the water'.

* GORDON WORTHINGTON - A SAD LOSS FOR OUR MEMBERS

I am very sorry to announce Gordon Worthington died Sunday 30th July at home with his family just after his 89th birthday. Gordon along with Jean joined our walking group just after it had started, and quickly got involved with the group. They started the fourth Sunday walk as we only had the Wednesday walk back then one walk per month and they were responsible for taking the group on their first holidays on public transport, not in the bespoke coach we have today. The first holiday being in the Isle of Wight with a coach company. Rod, who was with the group then, knew many walks around the Isle of Wight. After that, came two train trips to Teignmouth, and later in our cars to the Lake district.

Gordon and Jean were also responsible for helping to set up the committee.

Gordon was an excellent guide, becoming our No 1 guide. This was seconded by Betsy, which was praise indeed. His dedication to guiding and to the group was outstanding, and he always said he did not feel right unless he had someone to guide, he loved it.

Gordon also loved his garden and spent the afternoons in there when at home. He had lots of bird feeders and said he had to fill them up twice a day. He had a very long garden which kept him very busy. He loved the social side of our group, although he was a quiet man, he had a great presence.

Gordon and Jean were married for 65 years and were a truly devoted couple hardly ever to be seen without one another.

On behalf of the SVIWG we send our condolences to Jean, daughter Jacqueline and son Peter, their Grandchildren and their Great Grandchild. So lovely to have known you Gordon .... Gail


* MEMORIES OF OUR GORDON

I would like to share a funny story about Gordon and myself. I had arranged to meet Jean and Gordon for a walk but for some reason Jean could not make it. It was just the two of us. We had a nice walk and finished in the cafe at Norfolk Park. The chef is my neighbour's father, so I know him. I said, "hello Andrew this is my friend Gordon", straight away he said, "nowt to do with me, nowt to do with me". I looked at Gordon and said, "he thinks we are having it off".

How we laughed a lovely memory.

RIP my lovely kind caring friend, you will be reunited with George, Betsy and our John B .... Mary




Please send any photos or news items to chriswhittaker586@yahoo.co.uk and she will put them on our website - www.sviwg.co.uk

CEDRIC ROBINSON THE QUEENS GUIDE OVER MORECAMBE BAY Sadly Cedric, who was 88 years old, has passed away recently. Some of you will remember taking on this challenge during our 2015 holiday, organised by Steve Brown. Cedric was paid a mighty sum of £15 per year to take folks over these very dangerous sands.
I was told that he went out the evening before to mark where the tide would come in the next day, as this changed every day. What fantastic knowledge to have, and to be so in touch with nature. I do hope Cedric has passed his knowledge on to another, so many more folks can continue to enjoy taking on this challenge.

MEMBER UPDATE - Congratulations to Robert Nolan who is now on the board of Trustees at SRSB. It is always good to have someone who represents the charities to which they serve and with Robert's dual sensory impairment he will be a good ambassador.

Please note Minutes of this years AGM can be found on the meetings page or click this link Meetings

GROUP NEWS AND INFORMATION

Please send any photos for this website to chriswhittaker586@yahoo.co.uk
Please send articles for the SVIWG Newsletter to Gail Fagan 0114 2667764 or email gail.fagan@guidemail.co.uk

LATEST RNIB NEWS for sighted guidance The Government gives sighted guidance in England the go ahead. For more ingormation visit www.rnib.org.uk/news/campaigning/sighted-guiding-england-guidance

PLEASE NOTE - From time to time we take group photographs to update our web site and also SRSB's web site. Any members who do not wish their photos to be on the web site please contact Gail - details above.

FUNDRAISING SRSB...
The Weather Lottery support SRSB/RSS by taking part in our Weather Lottery from just £1 per week you have the chance to win a weekly cash prize of £25,000. For further information give us a call on 0114 272 2757 or email fundraising@srsb.org.uk find out more our website www.srsb.org.uk


COVID APPEAL
We also have a COVID Appeal running which you can support online at www.justgiving.com/campaign/SRSB-RSS give us a call on 0114 272 2757 to pay by card or just send us a cheque payable to SRSB.

SRSB's youngest client is just a few months old and is already benefiting from the support of SRSB. SRSB like many other charities is suffering during this time as their store collections have stopped and all other fundraising events have now been cancelled including their 160 year anniversary which was due to take part in September - this will take part next year.

.....................

SVIWG'S 2019 GROUP FUND RAISING CHALLENGE WAS ON 11th MAY

This year's challenge was a 12 1/2 mile circular walk from Lower Bradfield around several reservoirs.
Below is a photograph of the group taking a well earned breather, in front of some the beautiful scenery that they passed during the walk.
Thank you to all those members who took part in this years Fundraising Challenge. I am just sorry that I couldn't Lead you all the way round because of my knee injury Well done to everyone and good luck with the sponsorship. I am very proud of you all.
FOOTNOTE: Thanks to Mike Wilson who took over leading the walk for us whilst David returned to Bradfield with members who were only doing the short walk.

ST20 FINALS DAY AND MARTIN WILSON SCORES!
On the 5th May 2019 I took part in the T20 finals day at Wolverhampton. This was called off the previous September due to bad weather conditions. There were four teams: Yorkshire VI, Somerset VI, Northamptonshire VI and Lancashire VI. Yorkshire VI was chosen to play Somerset VI in the semi-final which Yorkshire VI lost. Yorkshire took third place after winning the third playoff against Lancashire. At the end of the day after all matches were played, Somerset placed first and Northamptonshire placed second. Trophies were presented in the evening, and to my surprise I was awarded the Low sighted player of finals day for my bowling figures. My bowling figures against Somerset were 4 overs, 24 runs, no extras and 1 wicket. Against Lancashire my bowling figures were, 4 overs, 24 runs and no wickets. Martin Wilson.

ERIC'S WHERNSIDE CHALLENGE - 5th MAY 2019

Eric's fund raising challenge this year was to climb Whernside (with the assistance of his son Fraser, and SVIWG members Christine and Steve).
At 736 metres, Whernside is the highest mountain of Yorkshire's Three Peaks, and as much of the route is quite rough underfoot, it was not easy for any of us. Luckily the weather was very kind.

Below are some of the photos from the day.

FROM THE CHAIR... When we come to the end of a walk some of our lovely VIP's may need assistance getting back to the bus/tram/train. If that assistance is required then please lend a hand even if it means extending your day a little. We are responsible to all of our members for keeping them safe please do what you can to help them.
. . . .
On a recent Sunday walk one of our sighted guides had to leave the walk for a comfort break, when trying to re-join the walk that member was involved in a road traffic accident, fortunately it was not serious. If any member leaves the walk for any reason please let the leader or back marker know, as we do not want this to happen again. Thank you David.
. . . .
Tuesday 19th March we visited Sherwood Forest courtesy of Sarah Bell who has been out walking with us on a few occasions as part of her research into Sensing Nature with a visual impairment. The Forest is now an RSPB reserve and they also have a new Visitors Centre. We were met by three delightful guides Jack, Gary and Indi, (we all loved Indi who was only 13). First we were shown around the Forest and also climbed into the Minor Oak I think about nine of us were in there. We then was shown a very old tree with a very large circumference and about 20 of us all stood around it touching each otherÕs hands to get a feel of the size. Much to everyone's delight we were allowed to touch and feel very carefully the Major Oak as Jack opened the barriers and we all stood around the Oak. Indi whose Sherwood Forest is his playground had never done this before. One of our members said she could remember sitting in the Oak when she was young. After Lunch we all marched off to Budby as the Guides said they had seen and heard Woodlarks singing that morning this bird is very rare and I have never heard one only on a CD or phone app. We marched over Heath and Scrubland where they nest but we were disappointed as they did not show or sing. This would have been the icing on the cake for me but in the Forest we was greeted by Song thrush which sang all the time we were there, Wrens, Green finch, Great Tits, Cold Tits, Blue Tits and Robins, Indi was excited to show us a Nut Hatch which was scrambling down a tree trunk gathering insects. The new visitors centre is remarkable very modern and disabled friendly also very good coffee. I heard one of our memberÕs say this was a perfect day as the weather was quite warm and still. Please visit Sarah's web site just search sensing nature Dr Sarah Bell as there are lots of interesting information about her work over the last three years, meeting various other groups including the Milton Mountaineers who have a visual impairment and climb mountains. On behalf of the SVIWG I would like to thanks Sarah for providing us with this opportunity to visit this lovely ancient Forest. Gail

Please note Minutes of this years AGM can be found on the meetings page or click this link Meetings

GROUP NEWS AND INFORMATION

Please send any photos for this website to chriswhittaker586@yahoo.co.uk
Please send articles for the SVIWG Newsletter to Gail Fagan 0114 2667764 or email gail.fagan@guidemail.co.uk

LATEST RNIB NEWS for sighted guidance The Government gives sighted guidance in England the go ahead. For more ingormation visit www.rnib.org.uk/news/campaigning/sighted-guiding-england-guidance

PLEASE NOTE - From time to time we take group photographs to update our web site and also SRSB's web site. Any members who do not wish their photos to be on the web site please contact Gail - details above.

EARLIER NEWS

NEW APP FOR IPHONE.... If you have an iPhone, you can download the free Google Maps app and then set up a simple widget to get that app to detect your next nearby bus! Step by step instructions for voice over users are to be found by tapping on the link: https://www.blindios.uk/google-public-transport-widget-iphone

SENSING NATURE...
Some of you may remember the delightful young lady Dr Sarah Bell who came out walking with us - she has sent us this link.
sensing-nature.com/news/nature-adventures-podcast.
Sarah ran an event in Bristol in September around promoting more inclusive opportunities for adventure nature activities with sight impairment. We've uploaded a short edited podcast of some of the main discussions from the event to the Sensing Nature news page in case it's of interest at all!