On June 15th 1960, twenty-three members of the Bank staff were present at a meeting held at Head Office to discuss the possibility of forming a rambling club. After much discussion it was agreed that such a club should be formed to be known as the Birmingham Municipal Bank Rambling Club. Officers and a Club Committee were elected.

A Committee Meeting was subsequently held on Monday, June 21st when rules were drawn up for subsequent approval.

It was agreed that rambles were to be held on a monthly basis on a Sunday. The time and date being decided by the leader of the ramble.

The first ramble organised by the Club was on July 17th from the Lickey Hills to the Clent Hills, with tea at Church Farm, Clent. Twenty-one members of the Club participated on this ramble.

Over the following 10½-years the Club organised rambles all over the Midlands, and further afield - even midnight rambles, and where possible a meal was laid on for us at our final destination prior to the journey home. They were happy days, and so easy to recall. Good companionship and good friendship was the order of the day.

The last ramble held by the Club was on January 31st 1971 when a turkey dinner was laid on for us at a country cottage by the side of the canal near Yarningale Common after a good walk in the Claverdon area. A fitting end to a wonderful time in the Birmingham Municipal Bank.

(The above article was written by Michael Davenport - a BMB Branch Manager, who was a long-term Secretary of the BMB Rambing Club.
 
Prior to the formation of the Club, the Staff Association had organised occasional rambles as illustrated by the above circular, and the 1949 circular reproduced below.
 
The photograph (right - supplied by Michael Davenport) shows three ramblers on a trip to North Wales in 1962 - they are (left to right):
 
Richard Mann: Edna Hoof; Doreen Rose (nee Follows)
 
A report of the trip was reproduced in CONTACT magazine 
 
Staff Association
BMB Rambling Club
  Photographs:
 
 Ramble, late 1950s   Image 094
 Arley, 1960   Image 040
 Ramble, early 1960s  Image 041
 Image 011
 
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  Reports of Club Activities, etc:
 

CLUB ACTIVITIES IN THE PERIOD 1961 to 1971 

Although this list is not comprehensive, it provides an illustration of

the level and scope of the Club's activities,

many of which are reported on in the 'Report on Club Activities' listed above.

The Club Secretary at the date of the activity is shown.

 
 
  
Club
Secretary
(see below)
 Sunday Ramble
 (1st Club Event)
  July 17th 1960   Lickey Hills to Clent 
(1) 
 Sunday Ramble  August 14th 1960
 Sheldon to Meriden via Catherine de Barnes & Berkswell
 (Leader: Philip Baulcombe)
(1) 
 Sunday Ramble  September 18th 1960  Maypole & Tanworth-in-Arden
 (1)
 Sunday Ramble  Octomber 16th 1960  Hagley to Caunsall via Kinver Edge
 (1)
 Scrimmage Ramble
    & Rounders
  November 20th 1960  Sutton Park
 (1)
 Sunday Ramble  December 11th 1960  Earlswood & Umberslade Park
 (1)
 Sunday Ramble  November 26th 1961  The Wrekin (Leader: Dick Atkins)
 (1)
 Sunday Ramble  February 25th 1962  Quatford (Leaders: Margaret & Keith Mayors)
 (1)
 Sunday Ramble  May 20th 1962  Lichfield to Alrewas
 (1)
 Theatre Party  July 11th 1962  Wizard of Oz on Ice at Coventry Theatre
 (1)
 Sunday Ramble  July 29th 1962  Coleshill
 (1)
 Sunday Ramble  October 21st 1962  Blakedown to the Invergordon Hotel, Kidderminster
 (1)
 Sunday Ramble  November 25th 1962  Clent to Rose & Crown Tea Rooms, Lickey
 (2)
 Sunday Ramble  December 16th 1962  Knowle to Henley-in-Arden (Leader: Richard Mann)
 (2)
 Sunday Ramble  January 27th 1963  Knowle to Packwood House for tour of house
 (2)
 Dinner Dance  February 23rd 1963  Chantry House, Moseley
 (2)
 Mystery Ramble  March 17th 1963  Meeting @ 11:50am @ Odeon Cinema, New Street
 (2)
 Sunday Ramble  May 19th 1963
 Redditch to Swan Hotel, Alcester
 (Leader: Michael Davenport)
 (2)
 Sunday Ramble  June 23rd 1963
 Portway to the Coach & Horses, Weatheroak
 (Leader: John Ordish)
 (2)
 Moonlight Ramble  July 13/14th 1963
 Culmington to The Feathers Hotel, Ludlow
 (Leaders: Michael Davenport & Richard Mann)
 (2)
 Outing  
 Diesel Train Tour of the Derbyshire Dales;
    short walk in Matlock; tea @ the Spa Restaurant
 (2)
 Sunday Ramble  September 22nd 1963  Shenstone to Tamworth
 (2)
 Sunday Ramble  October 27th 1963
 Vale of Eveshan to the Abbey Tea Rooms, Pershore
 (Leader: Michael Davenport)
 (2)
 Dance 
 March 21st 1964 
  Annual Dinner Dance
 (3)
 Saturday Ramble
 April 25th 1964
  Afternoon Ramble
 (3)
 Whitsun Weekend
 May 16th to 19th 1964
  The Lake District
 (3)
 Midnight Ramble
 June 20th to 21st 1964
   Midnight Ramble
 (3)
 Sunday Ramble
 July 19th 1964
  Anniversary Ramble
 (3)
 Sunday Ramble
 August 16th 1964
  Sunday Ramble
 (3)
 Scrimmage Ramble
 September 13th 1964
  Sutton Park
 (3)
 Saturday Ramble
 October 10th 1964
 Afternoon Ramble
 (3)
 Sunday Ramble  May 30th 1965  Alcester to Evesham
 (3)
 Sunday Ramble  September 19th 1965  Northfield to Frankley
 (3)
 Sunday Ramble  January 30th 1966  Astwood Bank to Blackwell
 (4)
 Sunday Ramble  February 27th 1966  Bewdley & the Wyre Forest
 (4)
 Sunday Ramble  July 3rd 1966  Callow Hill to the Bridge Cafe, Stourport-on-Severn
 (4)
 Sunday Ramble  August 21st 1966  Coughton to Henley-in-Arden
 (4)
 Mystery Ramble  June 30th 1968  
 (3)
 Sunday Ramble  November 3rd 1968  Gorcott Hill to Blackwell
 (3)
 Sunday Ramble  March 23rd 1969  Blakedown & Chaddesley Corbett
 (3)
 Saturday Ramble  April 19th 1969  Wyre Forest
 (3)
 Sunday Ramble    Hopwood to Tardebigge
 (3)
 Sunday Ramble  November 15th 1970  Bromsgrove to Blackwell
 (3)
 Sunday Ramble  May 23rd 1971  Droitwich
 (3)
 Steam Ramble  September 25th 1971  Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade for Severn Valley Railway
 (3)
 
Club Secretaries:
(1) Geoff Butler
(2) Diane Johnson
(3) Michael Davenport
(4) Richard Mann
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