Origins of the Ramblers Trafford Group
The inaugural walk and meeting to set up the new Ramblers Group took place on Tuesday 15th June 2010 in
Sale Water Park, at Jackson's Boat pub. Many people and much preparation were involved in reaching that memorable day.
The date was chosen to coincide with the 21st anniversary of the opening of the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) which passes close to Jackson's Boat. The TPT anniversary organisers were very helpful and allowed us to arrange our pre inaugural walk as part of the TPT celebrations as the 21st anniversary baton was carried through Trafford. Even more helpful was their agreement to allow us to use the marquee at Jackson's Boat pub, that the TPT had hired for the day, for our Ramblers inaugural meeting in the evening of 15th
June 2010.
Prior to the inaugural meeting, there had been a lot of administration work to be done as the local Greater Manchester and High Peak Area arranged to have a new Group, our Ramblers Trafford Group, within their fold. All existing Ramblers members with a Trafford address had to receive a letter inviting them to join the new group, that meant agreeing the wording of the letter, making photocopies, having envelopes and stamps paid for and a
volunteer put the letter into envelopes.
Many helpers and volunteers, too many to list by name, helped in the creation of our Group. A website was quickly designed, populated and maintained; an initial walks programme was put together and willing leaders pressed into service; the nitty gritty of finalising the Group's Constitution was carried out after several iterations by those who appreciated that as a registered charity, the Ramblers Association had to meet legal standards throughout its Area and Groups hierarchy. In Trafford there were, and still are, many "informal" walking groups. All supportive of the work Ramblers does in preserving the paths network but understandably wary of a new Ramblers Group being formed in their midst. So letters were written to all the informal groups to assure them Ramblers did not intend to put them out of business and to welcome their association, formally or informally, with our new Group.
The day of the inaugural walk and meeting, 15th June 2010, dawned fine and dry. The early afternoon celebrations with local Councillors, cyclists, walkers and interested members of the general public, cheered the TPT 21st anniversary baton as it was carried on its way through Trafford and this was followed by our Ramblers organised walk. The walk took us along the banks of the River Mersey and into the adjacent woodlands. The press release about our inauguration that the Greater Manchester and High Peak Area had published in the local "Messenger" papers resulted in very good turnout. At the end of the walk we lead the walkers into the (free) sandwiches and tea in the marquee at Jackson's Boat pub. The inaugural meeting opened with Bruce Fairbanks, Chair of Ramblers Area, welcoming the inauguration of a new Group. The formalities of electing a Group Chair, Secretary and Treasurer together with supporting Committee members was dealt with swiftly and, as they say, the rest is history. Our very well established Group is now in its second decade and going from strength to strength.
June Mabon