A brass plaque has now been installed on the SLR sponsored Kissing Gate at Compton Martin (on the Limestone Link and Butcombe Trail footpath just off Highfield Lane to the south of the village: GRID REF 547567). The gate was installed last year to mark 30 years of the SLR Club in 2013.
The simple inscription reads:
“This gate commemorates 30 years of happy walking with STOKE LODGE RAMBLERS. April 2013.” (LNB 18/7/15)
The club sponsored a new Kissing Gate in the Mendips near Compton Martin on the Limestone Link footpath, and Don and Pat Walter went along to meet the people from Mendip Hills AONB and Mendip Ramblers Walking Club who installed the new Gate for us on Tuesday 25th March. Don wrote afterwards:
Dear Neville
We had a very pleasant morning with Andy Mallender yesterday and we were impressed by the work done by Mendip Ramblers. The work on the new Kissing Gate was half completed and they expected to finish by afternoon. The site is very attractive and close by the Compton Martin Rag Well. I think that the word rag means a hard stone, often limestone, of which this well is certainly built. It is certainly fed by a spring and probably was a dipping well for the locals who grew food in the triangular patch called The Wrangle. But it is also understood that people did, and indeed still do, attach rags to nearby bushes when they made a wish at the well. More research required! The gate is a little south-west of the position shown on Andy’s map. We all agreed that the gate should be named Rag Well Gate which would draw the attention of walkers to the well.
Andy is to produce a brass plaque which will be headed “Rag Well Gate” and underneath “gate donated by Stoke Lodge Ramblers to celebrate their 30th anniversary” or words to this effect.
Best Wishes
Pat & Don
Photos taken on 25th March 2014 at the site of the new SLR Kissing Gate near Compton Martin.
CHRISTMAS MEAL and WALKS, THURSDAY 12th December 2013
72 members gathered at the Mercure North Bristol Grange Hotel at Winterbourne to celebrate the Annual Christmas Meal and to mark the end of the Club’s 30th Anniversary Year.
There were 2 walks – a 4 mile one led by Gordon Wise and a 2.8 mile one led by Wendy Wise and John Hollyman.
We then enjoyed a Christmas Meal back at the hotel.
After the meal we were able to present Don and Pat Walter with some gifts to mark their 30 years of service to the club and its committee since they co-founded the club back in 1983.
The gifts presented were: a SatNav, two pieces of pottery from local potter Karen Edwards, and a SLR sponsored “Kissing Gate” to be installed by the Mendip Hills AONB on the Limestone Link footpath near Compton Martin.
On behalf of the club Ken Mewes gave a presentation talk in recognition of Don and Pat.
Photos from the event appear below.
(Thanks go to Gordon Wise and Felicity Brewis for the artwork!)
CLUB’S 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS .
On Thursday 25th April the club celebrated 30 years of walking with a series of walks and then a lunch at Tyntesfield.
It was good to see so many of the original members at the event.
There was a good photo of the assembled group and an article about our celebrations in the Bristol Post Weekend on Friday 26th April 2013. Thanks to Davina for supplying a link to these: Bristol Post 25 April 2013 and here as a pdf.
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On Thursday 25th April the club successfully celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a series of walks followed by a Celebration Lunch at Tyntesfield.
A big thank you from the club for organising the event goes to Pat Walter who was ably assisted by husband Don as always!
The occasion was captured by photos displayed below.
Long Walk
Medium Walk
Short Walk
Celebration Lunch back at Tyntesfield
Prior to lunch
Lunch
The cake baked to perfection by our own “Mary Berry” aka Sue Bartlett
After dinner entertainment from Club Founder Member Don Walter
Stoke Lodge Ramblers 
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