50th Anniversary Annual General Meeting Weekend
Our historic 50th Anniversary weekend is now just hours away and all are welcome to join us with the walks, talks and social evenings. The AGM itself itself starts at 1.30pm, a little earlier than usual, as we pay tribute to four of our founder members: Frank and June Noble, and Ernie and Kathy Kay.
The meeting features music and singing, which we think must be a first. After the unveiling of the tribute plaque, another founder member, Bernard Lowry, will sing from the 1949 YHA song book: ‘Ode to Woad’ (to the tune of Men of Harlech). Frank used to make his archaeology fieldwork students sing it in the youth hostel common room (we are talking about post-war Britain).
Before the interval it is the turn of youth with Niall Heaton’s talk entitled: ‘Offa’s Dyke – A Local Perspective’, followed by a short musical performance by Emily Boulton.
The Keynote speaker at 3.30pm is Professor Howard Williams from the University of Chester. His talk is entitled ‘Hydraulic Borders? Water and Offa’s Dyke’. We are intrigued by the title so suggest that you do not miss his talk.
Finally, as we mark our 50th year, and quite properly reference our past and the foundations laid by our founder members, Niall will sign the meeting off with a look to the future.
On Sunday we have four talks. All of the weekend free but donations are welcome to help with the running of the Offa’s Dyke Centre. For his talks David Nightingale will be collecting donations for the charity Community Action Nepal. The Sunday programme is as follows:
Sunday 5th May
11.00am: Dave McGlade
‘Offa’s Dyke Association, its aims, aspirations and projects’
1.30pm David Nightingale
Himalayan Highs. Trekking and climbing in Nepal for the adventurous fell walker’.
An illustrated talk by David Nightingale from Community Action Nepal
2.30pm Julian Ravest
‘Offa’s Dyke by Drone
3.30pm Professor Keith Ray, Cardiff University
‘A missing length of Offa’s Dyke newly recovered: Lydbrook to Redbrook in Gloucestershire’
4.30 pm David Nightingale
David will repeat his talk