Oakridge WI: 'A ride around England' with William Reddaway

JUNE 9: Members Meeting, which is the chance for all the members who are not on the committee to show their appreciation for all the other meetings, and hard work which the president, secretary, treasurer and the committee do for us throughout the year.

Alison got the rest of us together and we all turned up trumps and put on a most delicious supper, enjoyed outside on a beautiful warm evening, with the sound of a cricket match on the playing field, an enjoyable Cotswold evening!

July 13: Once all the business was dealt with and a lovely report given by Bizzie on her visit as our delegate to the AGM at Brighton, we welcomed William Reddaway who gave us a super illustrated talk entitled 'A ride around England'

This was much more complicated than it at first sounded.

William first of all had to find a horse and found Strider, the plan was to visit all four corners of England and visit 30 Cathedrals, en route.

Starting off on May 10, from Winchcombe, and going all the way up through the Midlands as far North as Bamburgh on the Northumberland coast.

A lot of the ride turned into a walk for William as Strider developed a very sore back needing Vets treatment and several rest days.

Back down to London then heading south to Landsend, over Bodmin Moor on up through Devon, to Wells, Bristol over the Suspension Bridge on into Oxfordshire and finally back home to Gloucestershire the final visit to Tewkesbury Abbey.

Then back to Farncombe on the December 8.

Together William and Strider raised £78,000 for charity and we at Oakridge were happy to be William's 61st talk about all his adventures on this remarkable journey.

Members are reminded to make preserves, pickles chutneys, or marmalade for our usual stall at The Village Fete on September 3.

Date of the next meeting, September 8, when Peter Milner will give his talk entitled Big Mountains of Alaska.