David Bailey Obituary
DAVID BAILEY (1944-2024)
It is with great sadness that we report the passing in June of our former Chairman, David Bailey. In his youth, David was a keen cyclist but walking had always been a real passion. He had been on many walking holidays in his time. He just loved walking be it in the Chiltern Hills, on the Thames Path or in more adventurous climes such as the mountains of Nepal and the wilds of Patagonia.
David joined East Berks Ramblers in September 2002 and made a significant contribution to our group over more than 20 years. He joined the East Berks Committee in 2004 and served in varying roles including Publications Marketing Officer, Shows Organiser, and latterly (2012-2017) as Chair. He also organised eight group UK Autumn holidays between 2012 and 2019 including visits to the Yorkshire Dales, Sidmouth, Llangollen and Malvern.
In addition to manning the Ramblers Gazebo at shows and regattas selling our “Rambling for Pleasure” books and encouraging people to try rambling, he was a prolific walks leader and continued leading walks until 2023. He led both longer and shorter walks and what we call “Strollathons”; anything to help fill the walks programme. He was always willing to swap dates to fit in with other leaders' demands. In recognition of his contribution and dedication in leading many hundreds of walks for our group, he was presented with a Long Service Walks Leader award at our AGM in November 2023. Last autumn he led one last walk, a favourite of his, from Maidensgrove Common, which was fittingly the first walk he ever led.
Despite his failing health, David continued walking with East Berks until only a few weeks before his death.
He was a kindly, gentle man, always good for a friendly chat on our walks and in the pub afterwards! He was a very popular member of the group and will be much missed by all his friends in East Berks Ramblers.
Liz Richardson, Group Secretary, East Berks Ramblers
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Margaret Welsford
We are sad to report the recent death of Margaret Welsford, a long-standing member of East Berks Ramblers.
Her son Richard has sent the following details of her funeral arrangements. Any Ramblers who knew Margaret are welcome to attend.
"The funeral service will be held at Slough Baptist Church, Windsor Road, Slough, SL1 2EJ at 1pm on Friday April 5th. The committal service will be held at Slough Crematorium from 2pm followed by full afternoon tea refreshments from 2:30pm at Stoke Place Hotel, Stoke Green, SL2 4HT.
We hope you can make it.
There is no parking around the church premises but the Herschel multistorey car park is 5 mins away."
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Gerald Barnett
It is with sadness that we report the death of Gerald Barnett.
Gerald died peacefully at home on July 17th from complications following bladder cancer.
He had been a member of the Group since he retired in 1993, joining the committee soon after and taking on the role of Group Secretary, which he undertook with diligence and skill. This was at an important time for EBRA as we were raising our profile, establishing the group as a major force for the Countryside. We were becoming a stronger voice in negotiations with the Council and local landowners, in order to achieve improvements and enhancement to the ROW network.
In addition to his secretarial duties, Gerald researched and led walks, and with the help of his wife, Sheila, organised holidays twice yearly for the Group. These mainly took the form of three night breaks, at an HF hotel in the Spring and at a private hotel (researched and booked by Sheila) in the Autumn. They did this for fourteen years, and the holidays were very popular with the members and often oversubscribed.
On the social side Gerald was the MC at Christmas parties, setting quizzes and running indoor games and barn dances. He enjoyed cooking, especially Bar-B-Qs for friends and family, and baked his own bread (providing some at the parties).
He retired from the committee at the age of 85 to spend more time on his other interests, such as playing golf and socialising with old friends, who will feel his absence.
His services to the Ramblers and the walking public were immense and as a friend he is irreplaceable.
Gordon Marrs
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Peggy Vint
Members who knew John Vint will be sad to know that his widow Peggy moved to a home sometime during the last year and she died on her birthday – 4th March, she had Covid.
Her Funeral mass will take place on Thursday 30th March at 11am in Our Lady of Peace, Burnham. SL2 2NL. Her family is inviting everyone who knew her and loved her to join them in her Wake from 1.45 pm at Norden Farm, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF. Please can you RSVP on this link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LP9CDJ6 , so we know who will be coming. The family is also asking everyone who attends to wear ‘’a splash of red’ as it was mum’s favourite colour and she always wore it for special occasions. We are supporting Childline in her memory so please donate on the link below if you wish to: http://www.justgiving.com/Shivcronin?utm_id=124.
(information provided by Shelagh Whitehouse)
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Neil Adamson
We regret to announce the recent sudden death of Neil Adamson, after a short spell in hospital.
Neil and his wife Diane have been members of the Group for many years, having joined the Ramblers in 1997. They were regular walkers, in their younger days, and Neil was a walks leader.
Neil was our Membership Secretary from 2008, when he took over from Margaret Welch, until 2017 when the job passed to Malcolm.
He kept records of the members on an old card index system, organised recruitment campaigns (as the Groups point of contact) and arranged the printing and distribution of the Walks Programme and Newsletter. Pera and I had regular convivial sessions with Neil and Di “stuffing “ envelopes with the documents and then sorting them by postcode, for hand delivery or mailing.
Aside from walking, Neil and Di were keen gardeners and tended an allotment in Windsor, to which they would cycle. They were enthusiastic members of the Clematis Society, manning their stalls at shows, such as the one at Hampton Court.
Neil was a talented artist, some of his work adorns the walls of their home, and he enjoyed taking part in painting sessions with the local Windsor Art Group.
On a personal level, Neil was a convivial companion and we four had some memorable holidays together. He will be sorely missed by all of his friends and family.
Gordon Marrs
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