RECENT NEWS
The walk to Prestatyn!
Travelling the length of Offa's Dyke with Alastair Chalmers
15/03/2022
One week after members enthusiastically supported the NRPS AGM, we resumed our varied programme of weekly activity, welcoming speaker Alastair Chalmers from Bath Photographic Society, who took us on a photographic journey along Offa’s Dyke.
This was a trek he made, with his wife and two friends, between 2007 and 2009, completing five different sections as they travelled north from Chepstow to Prestatyn over a sixteen month period. Following the ancient boundary between Wales and Mercia that was built between 700 and 800 AD, the small group of friends were accompanied by two distinctly different canine companions, a Springer Spaniel and a Dachshund Together they negotiated fields and floods, hiking through forest and farmland, hills and valleys, crossing rivers and a multitude of stiles along the way. In total, they crossed the border nine times, sometimes unknowingly, with much good humour and collected many a tale to tell.
Alastair is an interesting, engaging narrator whose carefully chosen photographs interspersed with detailed maps and explanations kept us well entertained for the evening, and we ended feeling well informed both historically and geographically as a result of his commentary.
We learned of whitewashed churches, tilting bridges along the canals, and teetered with him on the Telford Viaduct. His tales of naval victories, of those who survived them or not, of “Monroes” and “Maralyns” , visits to Baskerville Hall and pitstops at the inevitable pubs along the route, were well illustrated by his maps and photographs. He humorously punctuated his presentation with accounts of inclement weather, the ever present threat of rising flood waters and the joy of discovering ancient organs in open, beautifully preserved churches as well as the odd abandoned petrol pump advertising fuel at 4 shillings and 3 pence a gallon- akin to 5p a litre in modern money!
We were royally entertained and felt thoroughly spoiled by Alastair’s attention to detail and excellent time keeping. This was yet another memorable evening spent with like minded people, appreciating the work of others engaged in our hobby. Alastair was warmly thanked and we look forward to more of his presentations in the future.
Next week we look forward to the results of our March Open Digital Competition, and later in the month we will be enjoying an evening of Audio Visual presentations. Anyone wishing to join the NRPS for he coming season should initially contact us through the website.
Jenny Short 12. 03.2022
This was a trek he made, with his wife and two friends, between 2007 and 2009, completing five different sections as they travelled north from Chepstow to Prestatyn over a sixteen month period. Following the ancient boundary between Wales and Mercia that was built between 700 and 800 AD, the small group of friends were accompanied by two distinctly different canine companions, a Springer Spaniel and a Dachshund Together they negotiated fields and floods, hiking through forest and farmland, hills and valleys, crossing rivers and a multitude of stiles along the way. In total, they crossed the border nine times, sometimes unknowingly, with much good humour and collected many a tale to tell.
Alastair is an interesting, engaging narrator whose carefully chosen photographs interspersed with detailed maps and explanations kept us well entertained for the evening, and we ended feeling well informed both historically and geographically as a result of his commentary.
We learned of whitewashed churches, tilting bridges along the canals, and teetered with him on the Telford Viaduct. His tales of naval victories, of those who survived them or not, of “Monroes” and “Maralyns” , visits to Baskerville Hall and pitstops at the inevitable pubs along the route, were well illustrated by his maps and photographs. He humorously punctuated his presentation with accounts of inclement weather, the ever present threat of rising flood waters and the joy of discovering ancient organs in open, beautifully preserved churches as well as the odd abandoned petrol pump advertising fuel at 4 shillings and 3 pence a gallon- akin to 5p a litre in modern money!
We were royally entertained and felt thoroughly spoiled by Alastair’s attention to detail and excellent time keeping. This was yet another memorable evening spent with like minded people, appreciating the work of others engaged in our hobby. Alastair was warmly thanked and we look forward to more of his presentations in the future.
Next week we look forward to the results of our March Open Digital Competition, and later in the month we will be enjoying an evening of Audio Visual presentations. Anyone wishing to join the NRPS for he coming season should initially contact us through the website.
Jenny Short 12. 03.2022