The Beaminster Ramblers celebrates 50 years of walking this year so we’re taking a look back at what the club as achieved and what it has enjoyed since it was founded in 1969.

1970s

In 1970, the club had 17 members and the annual subscription fee was five shillings, equivalent to 25p.

The officers of the club were Mr R. C. Drew, later credited with being responsible for the establishment of the club, Mrs Drew and Mrs Hamilton Fox. Other founder members included Mrs Beatrice Poole and Miss K Pym, who was president for several years.

The club originally met on alternative Wednesday evenings during the summer months and there was a theatre trip during the autumn, with longer walks introduced on Sundays in the late 1970s.

Discussions at committee meetings focused on the maintenance of footpaths and clearing obstructions which would be carried out with assistance from the local youth club.

The club also helped with the provision and erection of footpath signs and liaised with local landowners regarding rights of access.

In 1978, the club was involved in the provision and placement of waymark signs.

1980s

By 1980, membership had grown to 44 and the annual subscription was 50p.

Much of the discussion at AGMs centred on the provision of waymarks and signposts, which the club assisted with, and the network of signposts and waymarks in the Beaminster area owes much to the efforts of club members at this time.

During the 1980s, the club expanded its activities and introduced walks at the weekends as well as during the week, including some afternoon and evening walks.

By 1989, alternative Tuesdays had become the regular walking day, but walks were held in the mornings, afternoons, evenings or all day.

Over this period, the structure of the club was becoming more formal. Insurance was taken out and at the 1986 AGM, club rules were agreed which later became the basis for the constitution.

Chairmen during the 1908s were Mr Jack Wilson, Mr Jim Coleman and in 1989 Professor John Barnard was elected.

Honorary secretaries included Miss Chris Randall, Marjorie Harborough and treasurers Frank Gilson and Stan Henson.

1990s

The 1990s could be said to be the heyday of the club. As well as local walks of varying length, there were long distance walks completed in stages, which included the Dorset section of the Wessex Way, the Liberty Trail and a walk from Bridport to Blandford.

Weekend breaks and holidays were organised by Audrey and Barnard to Porlock, Tavistock and St David’s among others.

There were also social events and the ramblers supported community events such as the family rambling day and the fun run.

It was in 1997 that the subject of a millennium walk was first suggested by Harry Palk in response to a request for ideas to mark the Millennium. It arose from his idea to create a charity walk which had never come to fruition. This project was to occupy club members for the next three years.

The Beaminster Rambling Club planned, surveyed and waymarked five walks around Beaminster and has prepared a leaflet showing the walks with detailed instructions to allow anyone to follow the approved routes.

An official opening of the walks was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Captain Fulford-Dobson, and three dozen walkers set out to enjoy one of the walks.

After the creation of the ‘Millennium Walks’, now usually referred to as the Beaminster Hills Walks, the club committee set up a rota to check and maintain them.

The Beaminster Hills walks leaflets are regularly updated and reprinted. In 2013, committee members revised and updated the text, photographs were taken by Keith Jones and the graphics were done by Jim Cook.

The proceeds of the sale of the leaflets are put into a project fund to enable re-prints to be made.

2000s

In 2001, special arrangements had to be made for walks owing to the foot and mouth crisis and it was agreed to confine walks to coastal areas.

In 2005 it was agreed that the club should support the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance as its designated charity and to date around £1,000 has been raised for the charity by members.

In 2009, club membership stood at 45 and the annual subscription was £5 per person with the average number of people on walks at 13.

In 2015, a change in wording of the constitution was required to allow the maximum number of members to increase to 60. Membership now stands at the maximum of 60 with seven people on the waiting list. The group now averages 20 to 30 people on each walk.

The group’s 40th anniversary was celebrated with a five mile walk in the Beaminster hills. Members assembled at Julia in The Square and were given a send-off by town crier David Craner.

To find out more about the Beaminster Ramblers, visit beaminsterramblers.wordpress.com