ODA at 50!

Offa’s Dyke Association’s 50th Anniversary Year

Our Annual General Meeting weekend – 3rd to 6th May

Join us for a weekend of walks, talks and evening entertainment as we celebrate our 50th anniversary.

It is now fifty years since our founder Frank Noble held a public meeting in the Victoria Hall in Knighton to gauge the level of support for the then proposed ODA.  A motion was duly passed that a committee be formed and the rest, well, is history.

As the friends’ group for both Offa’s Dyke itself and Offa’s Dyke Path, for  50 years we have championed the public’s understanding, enjoyment and access to the monument as well as its conservation.  This is our full programme.  All walks and talks are free but donations are welcome to help us with the running of the Offa’s Dyke Centre. It is, though, essential to book for the walks and evening refreshments.

OFFA’S DYKE ASSOCIATION – 50th Anniversary weekend

Friday 3rd May

1.03 pm Service bus 41 from the Offa’s Dyke Centre to Hawthorn Hill then walk back into Knighton along Offa’s Dyke Path with Dave McGlade. 3 miles mostly downhill, gentle.

Satrurday 4th May at the Offa’s Dyke Centre, West Street, Knighton, LD7 1EN

12.30pm Official launch of the Offa’s Dyke Path walkers’ Passport

1.30pm 50th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

2.30pm Niall Heaton Offa’s Dyke – A Local Perspective

Emily Boulton and Penny Burns Offa Opportunities

Refreshments

3.30pm Address by Professor Howard Williams, University of Chester: ‘Hydraulic Borders? Water and Offa’s Dyke’

Followed by Niall Heaton – ‘How it All Started’

4.45 Close

6.30 – 7.00pm Evening meal. We have choice of Horse & Jockey (mains £10+) or chippy/chinese eaten in homely micro pub. Please give preference & intention of attending by 30th April. The most votes win. 01547 528753 or oda@offasdyke.org.uk.

Sunday 5th May

9.30am Minibus leaves the Offa’s Dyke Centre for guided walk led by National Trail Officer Rob Dingle. Spring Hill to Knighton 6 miles along Offa’s Dyke Path. Strenuous. No charge for transport but donations welcome. Booking essential.

11.00am talk: Dave McGladeOffa’s Dyke Association, its aims, aspirations and projects’

Afternoon talks; timings may vary slightly depending on the time that the walk group returns

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 for those who have been on the walk.

6.30 pm Informal social get together with cold buffet in the Offa’s Dyke Centre followed by an ‘Ancient Brits’ (founder members) heritage slide show. Tickets £7.50 including tea/coffee and cake. Please book and pay in advance by contacting the OD Centre asap & by 30th April. Order by card over the phone or by returning slip with cheque to the Centre.

Monday 6th May

10.00am Leave Offa’s Dyke Centre in cars for 3 mile (90 minutes maximum) walk around the Forestry Commission’s Wapley Hill Wood & Iron Age hillfort near Presteigne. We should be back at the Centre at the very latest by 1.00pm to give folk time to have lunch and catch the 14.22 train.

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Name…………………………………. ……..No of Sunday evening buffet tickets…… @ £7.50 Total £……

Contact number……………………………. Return slip to ODC, West Street, Knighton, LD7 1EN