PVR PRE-XMAS WALK & PUB LUNCH, 11^th December 2024

I joined 21 other walkers for Diana’s pre-Xmas Pub Lunch on a dry, if slightly overcast December morning outside the Packhorse Pub on the edge of Chazey Heath. Having returned to walking with PVR last year, I renewed acquaintances with some and also met new faces.

Our circuit of just over 3 miles used a mix of minor roads and tracks near the hamlets of Tokers Green and Trench Green above Caversham. The terrain was varied including some copses and open fields. At one point we had the luxury of a concrete farm track which we shared with several vehicular users!

Although I have walked in this area previously it was a long time ago and I had forgotten what an expansive view opens here down to and beyond the river meadows. It was also amazing to think that in this quiet countryside how close we were to the fast A4074 and the town of Reading.

On our return to the pub, we were joined by 12 others PVR members. We took over one part of the dining facilities where we had crackers as well as a lovely lunch. Thanks to Diana and all involved in organising the event.

Fiona

FISHY QUIZ 2024

What better way to spend a cold wet February evening than joining in PVR’s exciting, enjoyable and tense Fishy Quiz held in Pangbourne Village Hall – a bit different from a ramble! 6 teams pitted their wits against each other – all in great humour with no hint of physical blows! PVR is definitely an imaginative group – evidenced not only by their quiz answers but also in their team names – Quizzy Rascals, Six of Diamonds and We Can’t Remember to name but a few!

The 8 rounds sorted us out. The 2024 round was not good for those who had been too busy last year enjoying themselves rather than following the news; the food and drink round was perfect for foodies who knew what things like tahini paste and couscous are made from; the skeleton round providing an advantage to the forensic scientists amongst us and those devoted to TV programmes like Silent Witness; and a dismal performance by all on the Oscars round, perhaps indicating the homework that needs to be done before participating in any future quizzes? The Lost Cause team were winning all the way through but were pipped at the post by the rounds on naming Celebrities and completing a blank Monopoly board with the right street names and utility companies. Clearly the Lost Cause team did not have a misspent youth wasting hours playing Monopoly, whilst other teams clearly had, dredging up almost all the names from their distant past!

A close run competition, with congratulations to the winning team, Shamrockers, with 155 points, Lost Cause in second place with 143 points and Quizzy Rascals third with 141 points.

Many thanks to Diana for organising the event and the raffle, Chris B, the quiz master and Sarah for collating the scores and organising the raffle,successfully managing to keep us all in order, and those fetching the very tasty fish and chips – much needed after the mental energy expended! And a personal thank you for excluding any flag questions!!

Most importantly of all – a good evening was had by all!

Caroline

Autumn Walking Break Taunton 19^th to 21^st September 2025

The base for our holiday was the gothic Corner House Hotel on Park St complete with gargoyles and turrets. It was originally a house built for a retired Bishop of Winchester but unfortunately, the poor chap died before he could move in. Bishops of Winchester become a common theme throughout the following days. Our first walk in glorious sunshine included a tour of the town. Sue gave us a brief history of many of the interesting buildings we passed. Taunton Minster was a particularly impressive sight. Apparently, the donkey used to move stone during the building work was hauled to the top of the tower on the Minsters completion to admire the view! The walk continued along the Bridgewater and Taunton canal and the river Tone.

On the second day the rain held off until late afternoon. We started walking out into open country via Vivary park (formerly fish ponds for the Bishops of Winchester!). We continued via several beautifully planted flower meadows to the Queens Arms at Pitminster. Before lunch there was a chance for those who wanted to see Pitminster church with a beautiful window depicting Christ asking the disciples to become ‘Fishers of Men’. Walkers then enjoyed a very hearty lunch and the odd pint or two of ‘Old Lane’. The second leg of the walk to Orchard Portman gave us beautiful views of the Blackwater Hills. We stopped to admire St Nicholas church at Corfe. Return to Taunton was achieved via a rather delayed bus.

On the last day we walked in a westerly direction to Cotford St Luke through more land owned at some point by the Winchester diocese. Sue demonstrated her horse whispering skills when we needed to go through a field with some skittish occupants! Cotford St Luke is a modern village on the site of a former hospital. Lunch was taken in the hospital chapel which has been tastefully converted into an eating venue (Chapale available, the local ale). The last leg in glorious sunshine took us to the Quantock brewery at Bishops Lydeard.

Thank you, Gordon and Sue for a brilliantly organised trip. A lovely hotel with French inspired food, two excellent stops for lunch on Friday and Saturday and a good location near the centre of Taunton for those who did not wish to attempt all the walks. Your planning, attention to detail and kindness is legendry.

Janet and Diana

A trip back in time

Pang Valley Ramblers pride themselves on being up-to-date and modern, but on Wednesday 26th June 2024, we stepped back over 200 years with an afternoon trip on a horse drawn narrow boat on the Kennet and Avon Canal, run by the Kennet Horse Boat Company. The canals that were dug in the mid-18^th century provided a huge technological advance in transport, compared to the rough roads or flowing rivers. One horse could pull barges heavily laden with coal or other commodities on the comparatively still water, and this form of transport competed with the railways in some places even up to the mid-20^th century.

15 of us began the day with a varied 5 mile walk starting from Kintbury station; the remaining 10 avoided the scorching heat and joined later for the barge trip. The car parks around the station are free, but in some ways that is a problem, as for those who drove there finding a space was the first excitement of the day. Those people being environmentally conscious and arriving by train were rewarded by the train being late. We set off in debilitating heat, passing through the churchyard, open fields and woods. At one point we were accompanied by a little dog who had escaped from an isolated house. One of our members elected to return the dog, only to be met by a disgruntled dog sitter, who told him” You shouldn’t have bothered”. We duly arrived back at the station to scoff some lunch and/or try to cool down with a swift drink at the Dundas Arms. Then the real part of the day began.

Our horse power was provided by Monty, who plodded along the towpath with the rope attached and we glided serenely along behind him. As we passed moored barges there was great activity overhead to ensure that the rope didn’t snag, and of course bridges provided another problem to be negotiated. It must have been quite frenetic when the canals were busy with barges passing in both directions.

It was a gentle way to pass the afternoon. At one point, the lady on the boat asked us to be silent to appreciate the peace and serenity surrunding us. Sadly, it was soon interrupted by a nearby train passing! The people operating the barge were friendly and helpful, and Monty appeared not to mind too much. I expect we were an easier cargo than a barge weighed down with coal. Many thanks to Diana for her expert organisation, as always. A trip to be repeated.

Alistair

Christmas Walk and Christmas Lunch 6^th December 2023

Quite a large group of hearty walkers gathered at The Packhorse Pub at 10.45am in absolutely brilliant sunshine. This was such a delight after the rain of recent weeks.

Michael Howes, our walk leader, outlined the walk before we set off with warnings of the busy road crossings and unsurprisingly, the possibility of mud. Many had come prepared and were wearing gaiters. Continue reading »