UPDATE FROM THE AGM 2025
Following the AGM, held in Ilkley on Saturday 25 January 2025, the following people stepped down from their positions they held: -
Keith Wadd President
Mike Church Area Chair
Caroline Spalding Area Secretary
We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for the years of service at the Area Council.
We now have a new Chair in Steve Rawlings, all other positions remain unchanged and re-elected for another year.
A little bit about Steve Rawlings.
Steve was born in Finchley, North London and worked in London as a land-buyer for a non-profit organisation. One of his daughters attended Sheffield University and the other Leeds. When both decided to remain in Yorkshire, get married and have children, Steve and his wife, Linda, felt it was time to head north, moving to Menston in 2020.
Steve has always been a keen walker and soon joined Lower Wharfedale Ramblers, where fellow Menston Resident and former LWR Co-chair, Lesley Hill encouraged him to become Secretary in 2021. He will now combine this role with that of being Area Chair.
What is the future for the Area Council?
Together with the Branch Chairs, Steve has launched a major review into the future direction of the West Riding Area. Steve said, “The Ramblers are the only charity committed to campaigning to keep our countryside open to all and to fighting for the things that matter most to walkers. The historic West Riding has some of the best unspoilt countryside in England. There are many vibrant local Ramblers groups doing their upmost to enhance walking in the region and protect our unique but fragile environment. We are all volunteers, and the success of Ramblers is totally dependent on members coming forward in many voluntary acts to meet our objectives. I want to work with our local groups to ensure our Area attracts enough walkers and volunteers to fulfil those core aims. If we can be successful then the legacy will be the enjoyment of our beautiful countryside to our children and grandchildren. We need to be successful in ensuring everybody, not just our members, can access and enjoy walking in open countryside.”
The Ramblers campaign on behalf of all walkers and walking groups. If you would like to contribute to the review, contact Steve Rawlings