DURSLEY Ladies Probus Club Dursley and District Ladies Probus held its first meeting of 2017 on February 7 in the Community Centre, so Mary Bowkett, the President began by wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

Thanks were given to Judy Golding for organising a Coffee Morning in January, which was enjoyed by every one who attended.

An outing is being organised to the Royal Mint, more details later.

Birthday cards were given to four members.

The speaker was Rob Carruthers. His talk was entitled “Walking the Wonderful Coast of Wales”.

The Coastal path is 900 miles long and starts near Chester and finishes in Chepstow.

Rob did not set himself a timetable but undertook the walk by himself in two stages in 2014 and 2015.

He decided that camping was the best option.

The whole walk took a total of 66 days. Rob illustrated his talk with slides.

Rob in particular mentioned the many people he met on the way and their kindness e.g. offering him sandwiches, coffee and even a bed forth night.

It was not all plain sailing.

On day eight he collapsed in a cafe and ended up in hospital in Bangor.

Amazingly the doctor who treated came from Dursley and he was diagnosed as not taking in enough nutrition for the exercise he was having.

Once that was sorted he set out again only to end up in Bangor Hospital again on day 14 after he had a fall and cut his leg!

His main memories as well as the people he met were seeing lots of sheep, and the constant up and down of the route of the path.

His favourite stretch was the Lleyn Peninsular.

The next meeting is on March 7 at 2pm in the Community Centre when the subject will be “High Summer in the Arctic”.

For more information all Barbara Whitwam Davis 01453 890679.