NEWS

Winter meetings: In response to member suggestion it is planned to have two meetings during the rambling closed season. Details of the first meeting on 21st January and the talk on Red Squirrels is again in the Rambling On. the meetings will be in the Mission Hall North Kessock. Margaret Lawton is point of contact if you wish to attend  01463 772671

Rambling Reports and 2009 Rambles. Ramble reports for September and November will appear in the appropriate page as soon as I can manage. The programme for 2009 is already being worked on and will also appear as soon as possible.

Fundraising: As HDR wish to have a rolling programme for replacement of their vehicles applications for further funding have been submitted to Highland Cross and Inverness Common Good Fund with news due on both of these within the next two months. Any ideas of funding sources would be looked into.

The Thistle Challenge, Glenmore – 13^th September 2008 Two of our members, Elspeth Kennedy and Sheelagh Mosley, took part in this great fundraising event. Sheelagh completed the 6.5km (4 mile) ‘All Abilities’ route in the company of 14 others. Elspeth completed the 16km (10 miles) and 750 metres (2,500ft) climb over Meall a’ Bhuachaille in 5hours 20mins, along with over 70 others. Despite heavy clouds over the Cairngorms, the views from the ridge were dramatic with shafts of sunlight through the clouds.  With the money now in the two intrepid members raised over £540 between them. This should help greatly with our transport costs for taking the scooters to each ramble. The Thistle Challenge - The 2008 Challenge.

Christmas is coming: Well that might not come as a big surprise to you all but the pre-Christmas ramble will be at Brahan Estate on Thursday 4th December followed by Christmas Lunch at Storehouse of Foulis. Details costs are in the recent copy of Rambling On. If you haven't got a copy ring the HDR number on 07895 066 965. Scooter bookings for the day to Rita on 01463 782085 by Monday 24th November to whom cancellations should also be reported in case a waiting list is operating.

Bill McCreight: who died on 10th October joined HDR in the early days of the group with his wife Linda. They were always to be seen on rambles in the company of their dog Sam at it was always a pleasure to hear their Ulster accent. For a number of years Bill and Linda did a great deal to keep HDR afloat by organising the raffles on each ramble to help defray the costs of transporting the scooters. Having been very ill a year ago Linda recovered well and it was a great shock to hear of Bill's death. Bill was a life long atheist and would probably have been very amused when Peter a priest in the Scottish Episcopalian Church and another HDR member was asked to conduct his funeral service at the crematorium. We send our love and sympathy to Linda and assure her that her friends in HDR will do all they can to support her.

Michael Findon: It is with great regret and sadness that we report the sudden death Michael. Michael who set up the Highland Disabled Ramblers died suddenly on September 30th at home after an evening at Eden Court. It was in 1983 that Michael had a heart attack during heart surgery which left his health permanently impaired and mostly confined to a wheelchair. In spite of all this Michael campaigned continuously in the cause of the disabled with Marian always at his side. HDR was his main cause but it was one among many. Michael was greatly sustained by his Christian faith and commitment. He and Marian visited Lourdes regularly and he was very active in politics being a staunch member of the Conservative Party. Michael will be missed deeply by many people in the highlands and especially by members of HDR. We extend our love sympathy and prayers to Marian. Our loss is great but hers is greater.

By Chance:  If you have stumbled across this web site by accident or design and wish more details about Highland Disabled ramblers you can make first contact by telephone 07895 066 965 where we will be pleased to discuss the group with you.

Useful web site: I came across this site recently which may be of interested to butterfly enthusiasts. Clicking on the images usually increases them at various stages of development. http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/

More Articles: Adding information to the website is not usually difficult and the more there is to add the more interesting it can be. If you are not sure if your submission is suitable contact me on 01463741410

Nature Diary: I have added some material for September but would appreciate some contributions to make it more interesting. Just let me know what you are seeing in terms of wild life, plants etc and at what time of year. It would also be helpful to know the rough location as our area does indeed cover a vast change of geography.

A big Thank you  to the Walking on Wheels Trust for the £300 for our leaflet. This was greatly appreciated and perhaps it is due to this that we have had a bigger than normal enquiry rate for membership.  I am attaching their e mail address  http://www.walkingonwheels.org/ for your exploration.

Great Wilderness Challenge, Poolewe – 23^rd August  To express our thanks for the donation that made possible the purchase of the three Breeze 4 scooters, we took them up to Poolewe to show them off on the day of this year’s event, 23^rd August. Eddie Berry drove the van, accompanied by Margaret Ackers, while Peter and Sheelagh Mosley drove up from Fort William. P[eter and Sheelagh were able to stay for the prizegiving in the evening, and were invited to speak to the large gathering. They receive warm and prolonged applause from all present, as few beneficiaries are able to show off the kit they have brought. It was good to be able to express the thanks of all members of HDR, and much appreciated by the committee, marshals, medics and all involved in the GWC.

Apologies for lack of updates since July. I have got caught in many things over the summer and unfortunately something had to give. Hopefully I can see more time to give the website the attention it deserves.

Great news: The Great Wilderness Challenge Organisation presented HDR with a cheque for £10,000 at the ramblers AGM on 5th July. This came as unexpected to the majority of the members who gathered for the AGM at the Church Hall in Drumnadrochit. Two of the organising committee of the Great Wilderness Challenge posing as interested in the group made the presentation. Secretary Pat Ross and member Kathleen Martin presented Sheila Mosley with the over size cheque. The money will come in very handy in helping to replace some of the fleet of Meteor scooters which are coming to the end of their working life. Honorary President of the Ramblers Jamie McGregor MSP thanked the ladies on behalf of those present.

The importance of Toilets: It will come as no surprise that suitability of toilets is usually a talking point when we are discussing outings. It is not our intention to criticise any one through our web page but if you know of a toilet which is a good example as to how a Disabled Toilet should be please let us know. It need not be local but could be within Scotland or UK and could be helpful to your fellow disabled travellers.

Volunteer Drivers: We hope to announce a number of new drivers and assistants to our volunteers in the near future. Draft Job Descriptions are being discussed by the committee. We are grateful to those volunteering as it helps us to possibly expand our activities (28th January 2008)

Rambles 2008: Check the link for any alterations.

LINKS: In the absence of a links page  here are a view suggested sites which may be of interest to our members.  Forestry Commission www.forestry.gov.uk,  Fieldfare Trust www.fieldfare.org.uk,  Partnerships for Wellbeing www.pfw.org.uk, Step it up Highland www.stepituphighland.org.uk,  Forth & Tay Disabled Ramblers www.ftdr.com.

Committee Members Wanted: We are urgently looking for more committee members, especially members who are disabled. We understand that when we apply for funding as a disabled organisation, potential funders may be unwilling to give us money unless we have a majority of disabled people on our committee. Please consider joining the committee and help HDR secure a good future. Duties need not be onerous. (Friday 11th January).