This is an extract from the Booklet which is available at £2.50 + 0.50p P&P.
"THE
SOCIETY OF SUSSEX WEALDMEN
THE FIRST 75 YEARS"
FOREWORD BY THE CHAIRMAN
Having joined the club in 1978 I remember many changes over the years. When I first joined the walks were once a fortnight, with some clearances being arranged on a few other weekends. The meeting place for the walks was always Crawley or Horsham station and then cars to the beginning of the walk. I also remember that the distances were not as on the card, usually more. This was due to the practice of allocating walks by the Footpath Secretaries, who put down place names but did not estimate the distance. The Secretary trying to guess where the leader would take the group did this. I seem to recall no early finishes and one walk finishing at 9pm at Mayfield. Also during this time the pubs were only open from 12 till 2pm, with food usually being served only until 1.30pm. I remember one leader arriving at the pub after they had stopped serving food, much to the disgust of several of the group.
As time went by the group had more regular walkers and it was decided to have 3 weekends with a walk and then a weekends rest. The only problem was that the numbers did not go down and so it was decided to have a walk every weekend.
I also remember walking on problem paths, especially in East Sussex, and having confrontations with farmers and landowners. East Sussex was a real challenge for route finding. If a path was marked from the road you were lucky, signposts of the road were almost non-existent, bridges were very often either not there or in a very bad state of repair and as for stiles well, I think you can guess, barbed wire and broken stiles were the norm.
Anyway enough of my reminiscing, I must thank Mr. Peter Armstrong for putting the bulk of this History Document together. Without him I do not think it would have been produced. I hope you enjoy reading this history of the club and may it go on for another 75 years.
Peter Hodge
Chairman
The History Document is available at £2.50 + 0.50p P&P.
Please send any orders to Mr. P W Hodge 20 Fay Road Horsham West Sussex RH12 2LG