Notts & Derby Walking Group Meeting Held On Thursday 23rd April 2026 @ Horse And Jockey, Stapleford

Present

Andrew Cowell (AC) (Chair), Stuart Broadhurst (SB) (Treasurer), Rachael Drewery (RD) (Membership Secretary), Josh Grainger (JG), Alistair Green (AG) (Webmaster), Joanne Morris (JM) (Social Secretary), Jonathan Bramley-Maye (JBM), Gary Olds (GO) (Walks Organiser), Chris Parkin (CP), Kevin Robotham (KR) (Secretary)

1. Apologies

Rob Stevens

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting from 3rd February 2026

Minutes of the previous meeting were distributed with the agenda.

Minutes were ratified by the group.

3. Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Previous Meetings

  • Andrew to look into use of Whatsapp for private secure discussions.

    • AC to set up in the Next Few Weeks

  • Andrew to ask the treasurer to look into whether we can have a Group Debit Card

    • Can be done but there will be no form of counter signing compared to the current arrangements
    • JBM raised the issue of cottages now requiring online payment – placing reliance on weekend organisers paying for cottages out of their own funds
    • Stated that we have three countersignatures. Raised that JM should be a countersignature, but has not received any details
    • SB to get new logging in detail. Intention is that all countersignatures set up and approve payments (though not able to set up and approve the same payment)

4. Financial Report

  • £6211 in the bank account
  • £1943 expected back following payment of weekends. £1000 is owed for the Hawes Weekend

5. Walks

Walk Programme is just about complete until the end of August. Work is on going for the September walks.

Two walks require walk leaders.

Discussion on possible walks:-

  • Donna Nook in Autunm / Winter
  • Camping evening at Hulme End

JBM to provide AC with some words put out on planned walks. ACTION

JBM to talk to Katie Szkornik about a climbing event. ACTION

JM to talk to Strutts about booking a room for the AGM 10th October 2026. ACTION

St Briavels weekend to be opened at the May Social (Canal House)

Buttermere weekend to be opened at the June Social (Holly Bush)

6. Membership

Membership up to 199 (increase from the 184 reported at the February meeting)

7. Group Webpage

JMB raised that that he has asked people how they found about the group. Many stated that had found about the group via the webpage and not necessarily via Facebook.

It was suggested that we need a gallery of photos from walks on the group website. JBM suggested that we need a link from the Facebook Group to the website.

8. Socials. Pub meets to date & any suggestions for future events

Webpage up to date.

Socials:-

  • May – Canal House, Nottm
  • June – Holly Bush
  • July – Victoria, Beeston

9. Weekends

  • New Year – RD has not found anywhere suitable
  • Xmas 2026 (12th Dec) AC to look at ideas

2027 Weekends

  • Suggestion of Scotland again for 2027
  • 30th Celebration of the group. Use a hostel?
  • Isle of Scillies - another option for next year
  • South Downs, Kent
  • Pembrokeshire, 2nd Bank Holiday weekend in May / August Bank Holiday / Easter
  • Eskdale
  • Cornwall
  • Ribblehead area

10. AOB

Suggestion of putting the Action Point on the Whatsapp.

11. Summary of Actions

  • JBM to provide AC with some words put out on planned walks.
  • JBM to talk to Katie Szkornik about a climbing event.
  • JM to talk to Strutts about booking a room for the AGM 10th October 2026.

12. Date and Venue of Next Meeting

Kevin Robotham to circulate dates around for next meeting.