F o r e s t R a m b l e r s’
C l u b
F o u n d e d
1 8 8 4
w a l k i n g
i n t h r e e c e n t u r i e s
More about us – a brief history of the
Club
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The year
is 1890. Here we are in band of Victorian gentlemen . . . |
The
Forest Ramblers’ Club was formed in November 1884 by a group of One
of the Club’s first aims was to keep a watch on Because
of the Club’s connexion with Epping Forest, the chief officer was – and still
is – known as the Ranger, and there were up to 15 Verderers, each responsible
for a particular area. This latter office is long since defunct. The
Club soon began to explore footpaths on all sides of |
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Membership
was limited to men, but the old ramble programmes shew that in the Club’s
early years Ladies’ Days were held at frequent intervals, especially during
the summer months. These often took the form of river trips or visits to
places of interest, with transport by trap or brake included where
appropriate. Evening
social events also played an important part in the life of the Club in those early
days. An annual soirée, consisting of an evening of music and dancing, was
held from 1886 until about 1897, when dinners and social evenings found more
favour. During this period there were also extended visits to places well
beyond the Club’s usual area, such as Some
notable personalities have been members of our Club in the past. These
include the author of rambling booklets E S Taylor (alias “Walker Miles”),
Sir Lawrence Chubb, Secretary of the Commons, Open Spaces & Footpaths
Preservation Society (“Pathfinder” of the Star newspaper), Percy Lindley,
author of travel books, and Charing Cross Road booksellers William and
Gilbert Foyle. Rambles
have been held continuously throughout the year since 1884, except during a
few months in the Second World War when bombing was intensive. Only one walk
is known to have been totally abandoned – at |
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. . . and
here we are again, this time in 2007 at But, oh
dear, whatever has become of the smart waistcoats and bowler hats? Not to mention most of the beards and moustaches. |
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Where are the hats of yesteryear? Ladies’
Day in about 1900 |
Towards
the end of the twentieth century the Forest Ramblers’ Club had acquired a certain
notoriety in that not only was membership limited to men, but the number of
Ladies’ Days had long ago been reduced to one a year and (apart from making
the tea at the AGM!) this was the only event that women could attend. We are
currently searching the Club’s archives in an attempt to establish when, and,
if possible, why, women’s participation was so drastically reduced during the
twentieth century in spite of contemporary social trends. In
1996 it was at last decided to hold a Ladies’ Ramble and by 1999 the number
of these events, which were proving to be successful and popular, had
increased to three a year. In 2000 the Committee, now under new leadership,
decided informally that women could be invited to all rambles and in 2001, as
a further step, members’ wives were admitted as full members. In 2002, at
long last, the Annual General Meeting voted overwhelmingly in favour of equal
membership rights for all and the Constitution was reworded in non-gender
specific terms. |
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As
we have already remarked, in earlier years many of our members were employed
in small retail businesses and the rambles were held on Wednesdays and
Thursdays, these being early closing days in different parts of London.
Nowadays we walk only on Thursdays and, owing to social changes and the
gradual abandonment of early closing, our walks now tend mostly to attract
retired people, who particularly benefit from the late starting times and
availability of the London Freedom Pass and Senior Railcard. We
should like to extend to you a cordial invitation to come along and try out
our mid-week rambles for yourself. You are assured of a warm welcome. |
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