Walking for Health newsletter Summer 2016

Walkers Summer 2016 Newsletter Issue 7
Welcome to the summer edition of the Wokingham Walking for Health newsletter.
It has been an incredibly busy summer for the Walking for Health programme and we have seen a steady increase in
the number of new walkers attending the walks. Each week, we receive a host of new ‘Walker Registration’ forms and
it is great to see more and more people joining the walks.
Our walk leaders are generally the first impression new walkers receive when they join a walk and our programme is
only as strong as our volunteers. Walkers become walk leaders for a variety of reasons. Some want to ‘give something
back’ to the community whilst others receive a great deal of satisfaction helping others. In this edition, we speak to
long time walk leader, Peter Astill. He shares his experiences and we are delighted that he is our first official
‘interview’.
September is a great time to assess our physical activity levels and with that I am pleased to announce a range of new
‘strolls’ beginning in a variety of locations across the Borough. The ‘strolls’ will hopefully encourage people who are
sedentary and new to physical activity. The walks have been graded to offer beginners an enjoyable walk whilst
offering up a social element to help people who may be at risk of isolation.
Our programme enjoys a thriving social element and it gives me pleasure to share stories of the social events that
take place throughout the year. The Social Committee does a sterling job organising and running these events and the
feedback I receive from many of the people attending is always positive. Chairman, Brian Hughes reports on the latest
Hog Roast. Thank you to everyone involved and an enjoyable time was had by all.
Finally, we submit our regular request to ask walkers to consider becoming either a ‘walk leader’ or ‘backmarker’. We
desperately need new volunteers to help us deliver our wonderful programme.
Enjoy the summer edition
Glenn
Wokingham Walking for Health
Spotlight on……Walk Leader Peter Astill
How did you first become involved in the Walking for Health programme?
My wife, Valerie, discovered health walks before I retired and encouraged me to join her in 2001 when I no longer had a
daily commitment to go to work. I became a leader in 2004 and I lead the Sonning, Arborfield and Wargrave walks.
What makes leading the walks so rewarding for you?
By playing my part in keeping the health walks going and in encouraging others to enjoy the benefits of health walking. I
have made good friends, more numerous than I ever had during my working life.
How has the programme changed since you first started?
The most significant change has been in the constantly increasing number of walkers, making the leaders’ efforts so
worthwhile. The administration of health walks by Wokingham Council, in the recognition of the value of health walking
and in the increased and efficient support we receive.
What interests you outside of walking?
My greatest interest is in good music, as a concert-goer and listener. My one regret is that I never had the opportunity
to make my own music. Valerie is the treasurer of the social committee and I am pleased to be able to support her and
the committee. I spend a high proportion of my time sitting at my computer, which I use for planning longer walks,
processing photographs, running my website, internet access and many other day-to-day activities.
Have you met anyone famous?
On a special birthday trip to Geneva, I was privileged to meet and shake hands with the world-famous classical pianist,
Alfred Brendel, on his farewell tour in 2008.I have met Dr. William Bird, who may not be world famous but is the man
who invented health walks in the 1990s and so is very important to us all. He, most assuredly, has had an enormous
positive effect on the nation’s health and fitness.
Do you have any funny stories from the walks that you would like to share?
It is well-known that a walk in the opposite direction can be quite a different walk. At the conclusion of the walk, one
walker was missing so search parties were mobilised to find him. The searchers were unsuccessful but the missing
walker eventually turned up as a passenger in a 4x4, driven by someone who had discovered our walker looking lost.
There is much laughter and banter during the post-walk coffee and the social events and several of us are self-appointed
experts in solving the world’s problems while walking.
Personal benefits from health walking
My personal benefit has been in improving and maintaining my fitness, health and general well-being. Before regular
health-walking, a circuit of the Virginia Water Lake would leave me exhausted, with sore feet and aching muscles.
Walking for Health gets great results.
Getting involved:
A recent research report conducted by Walking for Health and the Ramblers uncovered some interesting facts. The
study concluded that Walking for Health:
• Inspires people who don’t exercise to move more. Almost half of our walkers used to do less than half an hour of
activity three days a week until they started walking.
• Has staying power. People that walk with us take at least five walks every four months.
• Helps people stay active. Not everyone can exercise as much as they used to. Walking lets everyone step down
without giving up exercise altogether.
• Is popular with women and the over-55s. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of our walkers are over 55, the same amount
are women. Both these groups usually have lower than average levels of physical activity.
• Is highly cost effective – particularly when compared to the costs of treating diseases caused by inactivity
As a walker, you are well aware of the physical and social benefits of walking. If we can recruit a neighbour or friend to
join just one walk a week, the benefits to that individual and the wider community, would be great.
New Walks in the Community
We are pleased to announce a series of new Health Walks that will begin in September. The walks are all graded as
‘strolls’ and they are ideal for people who are new to physical activity, looking to get back into walking or want to enjoy
a shorter walk.
Day
Wednesdays
10:00am
Location
Gorse Ride
Community House
Start Date
Wed 14th
September
2016
Contacts
Catriona MacMillan
Community Development Worker
07785314603
Walk Distance
1 mile
(Approx. 30
minutes)
Wednesdays
2:30pm
Rainbow Park
Community Centre,
Winnersh
Wed 7th
September
2016
Rose Green
Community Development Worker
0118 908 8193
1 mile
(Approx. 30
minutes)
Thursdays
2:00pm
Norreys Avenue
Community House,
Wokingham
Thurs 15th
September
2016
Lisa Hookway
Community Development Worker
0788 7634 932
1 mile
(Approx. 30
minutes)
Fridays
11:00am
Alexandra Place,
South Lake Crescent,
Woodley
Friday 9th
September
2016
Ashwani Gupta
Community Development Worker
07825195503
1 mile
(Approx. 30
minutes)
Please contact Glenn at [email protected] if you wish to join in the walks or call 0118 974 3729.
Summer Hog Roast
Summer finally arrived on Saturday 16th July, the evening of the Wokingham Health Walkers annual hog roast.
80 people gathered at Barkham Village Hall with a choice of 2 different walks on offer before the picnic, both
with walk leaders and back markers.
The walkers set up picnic tables in the grounds of the village hall, and were looking forward to enjoying the
delicious meal that was awaiting them on their return from walking. Valerie Astill and her band of helpers,
including most of the committee, had prepared salads and cheeses to accompany the hog roast. Alternative
food was available for vegetarians and pescetarians as well. Dessert included strawberries and cream, biscuits
and cheese, or both, appetite allowing!
A raffle was held, and £150 was raised to go to the chosen charity for this year, “Daisy’s Dream”, a local
children’s charity based in Twyford.
At the end of the evening, Brian Hughes, Chairman of the Health Walks Social Events Committee, thanked
everyone for coming. He also thanked all those people who had contributed towards making it such a happy and
successful evening. Many friendships have been formed as a result of the health walks, and we look forward to
our next event, a Barn Dance on 15th October at Barkham Village Hall.
Walkers relaxing after the walk
Walkers waiting patiently
Walk Leaders Desperately Required
The Wokingham Walk for Health programme relies heavily on the goodwill and service from a number of
committed volunteers. Without their commitment, many of the walks would not take place or they would need to
be scaled down. Whether you are an experienced walker or new to the programme, we are always on the lookout
for new volunteer walk leaders and back markers.
You will receive full in-house training and be rewarded with a first aid qualification. (To be completed after the one
day training). The programme has an experienced walk coordinator who designs the rota for the walks and you will
be fully supported by Wokingham Borough Council Walking for Health coordinator. Walk leaders (and back
markers) receive a uniform and the satisfaction of contributing to the success of the programme.
Walk Leader & Backmarkers Courses for 2016
Next Course Dates
Friday 30th September 2016
Ashridge Room, Cantley Park, Wokingham 10am to 3:30pm
By the end of the course you will:
 Understand what Walking for health is about
 Understand the benefits of walking and physical activity
 Get to know the role of a walk leader
 Information on mental health and learning disabilities
 Have access to follow-up support and resources to help people make the most of their skills, including a
Volunteer Walk Leader manual
 Be confident to lead a health walk in due course (following the guidance that goes with the progress card)
 Have met and shared best practice with other walk leaders
 Know the role of back markers. A back marker is a trained leader who walks with the back of the group of
walkers, making sure no-one gets left behind.
If you would like to attend a future course, please contact Glenn at [email protected] or call 0118
9743729
Spotlight On …Maiden Place
Maiden Place, Lower Earley (Medium Grade)
The Maiden Place walk is the only recognised walk that takes place in the evening. Walk Leader, Nancy Dowling
explains the joys of the walk in Earley and how the walk changes routes depending on the time of year.
From April to September, we enjoy taking in the woods and Lake of Maiden Erleigh where the views and
nature are stunning. Due to the time of day that the walks take place, we are often able to see amazing sunsets
reflected in the lake as well as plenty of wildfowl, including Mandarin Ducks. The Earley Council do a fine job in
maintaining the paths and walkways in the reserve and it is nice to see and greet other park users as we make
our way around the walk.
From October to March, the walk is round the roads of Earley. It is during the winter period where we move to
safer ground. The walk is keenly attended and we would be delighted to welcome new walkers to our group.
Starting point: Maiden Place, off Kilnsea Drive, Lower Earley.
Time: Monday evenings at 6.15pm for a 6.30pm departure.
Parking: Opposite the Community Centre (top car park).
Grade: Medium, distance 3 miles, 45 - 60 mins walking.
Nancy Dowling
Just for Fun…
In Brazil there are Brazilians
Picking coffee beans in zillions
And footballers earn millions
Kicking balls
In the Amazonian River
Snakes and Caymen slither
From Iguassu’s waters quiver
Over falls
Tarantulas stalk and wander
Tripping over anaconda
And the sloths will stop and ponder
Run a mile
Join the carnival in Rio
And sing and dance and limbo
With Senhoritas – arms akimbo
Latin style
We can party with maracas
Let off the old fire crackers
If they think that they can whack us
At the Games
We’ll send sons and sporty daughters
Across Atlantic waters
With their fans and their supporters
Raise the flame
In gear from Marks & Spencer
We’ll send them our best fencer
Which no-one there will censor
Or deport
They can swim and run and cycle
In lycra from St. Michael
The Olympian disciple
God of Sport
With Britain’s finest gymnasts bold
All awarded medals Gold
Their picture on the centre-fold
It’s written
Olympic athletes at their peak
The greatest sportsmen since the Greek
Showing skills and their technique
For Britain
By Jean Hill