2011 has been a very exciting year for us, to celebrate the fact that we have been in existence for 60 years we held a number of events to which many current and former members attended.

Click here to see photographs of the Diamond Anniversary events and our first 60 years.

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29th MARCH - EVENING IN AT DISCOVERY HALL

Over 50 former and current members enjoyed a party at Discovery Hall celebrating Barnet YHA Group’s Diamond Anniversary.

Many members provided photos from the six decades which were displayed on some boards, provided by Alex A. These photos as well as the photos displayed in albums were happy memories for some and of amusement and interest to others.

Jane L brought along the archive of newsletters which run from 1953 to last months’ issue. Graham gave out Diamond bingo sheets as people arrived, these had a few questions and were colour coded orange for former and yellow for current members. We asked a question from the sheet to someone who had a different coloured sheet. Former member Annie and current member James were each awarded a chocolate orange for being the first to get a full set of answers. This was a great idea for everyone to mix.

Helen provided some party food and Jane L made the cake. With thanks to all who helped, the evening went very smoothly, and was enjoyed by all.

14th JUNE - ANNIVERSARY QUIZ AT DISCOVERY HALL

Current members enjoyed this quiz with a round of questions about national events for 1951, 1961 etc to 2011. 

 Five BYHAers rose to the challenge of Andrew’s treasure hunt. We met at Barnet Odeon and divided into two teams; Sue, Alex and Peter in one team and Graham and Georgie in the other.

Andrew explained our objective for the night which was to find 12 code points (a green and white label affixed somewhere and to something) out of a possible 36, each code point denoted by a grid reference and all located somewhere on OS map 166 Luton and Hertford. On finding a code point we would be given three additional points to go and find (which could of course, be ones we already had). Each code had a value from 1 to 5 depending on the level of difficulty in finding it. The team with the highest number of points would be hailed as the winners. 1:00 a.m. was the cut-off time to report in at South Mimms services.

Mission impossible we initially thought,  though soon decided it can’t be that tough. Sue, Alex and Peter, on the other hand, thought it would be a piece of cake – given Alex and Sue’s local knowledge and Alex’s ‘navigational’ skills!  Armed with our map, compass, instructions and first three code points and checkpoint where Andrew and Caroline could be found we were keen to begin.

We decided the nearest point from Barnet would be the best one to start with and proceeded to a telephone box in Ridge. Having found this straight forward we headed to Bayford war memorial and scoured the area eventually Graham excitedly announced he found the label affixed to a salt bin next to the village sign, all our searching only accounted for 2 points. However still encouraged by our success we went to find Andrew and Caroline at the checkpoint in Letty Green and ended up in the pub.

Our first was the war memorial at North Mimms, the label being fixed to the side of a bench. Unfortunately we didn’t get the code for Ridge until later, so didn’t get the one for Bayford until we were near Watford.

Suitably refreshed (What do you mean ‘suitably refreshed’? You mean we could have stopped for a drink? Alex!!!!) and with our next set of codes we moved on to the next location only a short distance from the checkpoint though we failed to find it. (We did – a long way down a footpath at a crossroads – a 5 pointer)  By this time the light was fading fast and it was becoming increasingly difficult to spot the labels. It felt eerie wandering along footpaths in the dark.  On our return to the car we briefly met the other team though were soon on our way again.

Our next location near Panshanger, again we failed to find it. We spotted Andrew and Caroline near to where we had just visited. We stopped and with a little assistance found the label partially buried and stuck to the side of a tree trunk. (that would explain why we couldn’t find it, even after spending ½ an hour looking!) We were advised the grid references were accurate, perhaps our measuring wasn’t up to scratch, not so easy when it’s pitch black.
 
We had success at the next stop after returning to the same site a second time we found the label outside the entrance to the National Grid. The other team were in close proximity though as it was so dark they didn’t notice us drive by.   (Gave up with this one after Alex decided, in these days of heightened security, that prowling around the entrance to the National Grid in the middle of the night may have attracted attention!) With time pressing on and only just over an hour left we headed to Hunton Bridge near Watford. The label was nowhere to be found and as we were heading back to the car Graham spotted it just poking above the grass affixed to a BT box.

Our team, meanwhile, had found another label in a tunnel under the motorway. This turned out to be the decisive 5 pointer. Alex explained that we were on a ‘night navigation exercise’ to some anglers as we passed a fishery doing a passable impression of a couple of poachers!

By this stage there was only 15 minutes left so we dashed over to Bushey to try and find another label. Venturing into the nature reserve we encountered cobwebs and mud and then realised we should be further down the road. We briefly wandered around Merry Hill and surprisingly the other team turned up so we went looking together though to no avail, not surprising really as we later discovered the label had been place beneath the stile.      Having returned to the Services, the points were totalled and the winning team announced. Congratulations to Sue, Alex and Peter who obtained 20 points, Graham and I collected 16 points. We were all pleased with our efforts and enjoyed the chocolate prize.

Thanks to Andrew for organising an interesting, imaginative and well prepared navigation task, also to Graham for driving and great navigation and to the winners Sue, Alex and Peter.


 

This party was in honour of something really special. Our Group’s Diamond Anniversary and most importantly an opportunity to meet up with members past, present and new. Yes! 60 plus people turned out to celebrate 60 years of BYHA! There were lots of chatting, catching up with friends, reminiscing trips and just having a good time.
 
The evening started with Christine greeting us at the door of the Barnet Football Club which proved to be an excellent venue with a dance floor, bar, plenty of space, and a recess with comfy chairs. This area also served to lay out the buffet and anniversary cake which was quite a sight for sore eyes!  Any one who wasn’t there I wish you could have seen the cake!
 
Dave and Jane had put together a presentation of photos which lit up a largish screen and attracted lots of attention throughout the whole of the night.

This consisted of a rotating display of the early years of the group’s trips up to the present day and was a good focal point to the evening.  It did cause some merriment with a few members when seeing their younger selves.
To officially kick off proceedings Graham delivered a heart warming speech welcoming everybody to this momentous event. He spoke of the merits of the Barnet YHA, how it has stood the test of time and how walking and its related activities with the countryside can be a benefit to all.
 
After we had munched our way through the scrumptious buffet, the disco music got under way and people took to the floor for the rest of the evening. This didn’t detract though from members continuing to chat.  All too soon it was midnight and we had to say our farewells.
 
Thank you to the committee and all involved in the input of a wonderful evening which truly befitted the Barnet YHA Diamond Anniversary year.

23RD JULY - PRE DIAMOND PICNIC HALF DAY WALK LONDON COLNEY

 A group of 13, including three friends and two former members met at the Drop Lane car park near Colney Street for a six mile walk.

After a short distance we took a new diversion path that had been built due to the M25 widening works that are in progress. As the path took us away from the motorway the noise of the traffic quickly diminished. We walked through Jack William's Wood and past Little Munden Farm before stopping for an elevenses stop by the River Colne.
 
The next part of our walk took us along part of the Hertfordshire Way that some of us had walked a few months earlier. A footbridge over the River Colne at the point where the road goes through a ford was an excellent photo opportunity. Shortly after we walked on a path beside the River Ver back to the start of the walk. We all had lunch at the nearby Moor Mill P.H.

 24th JULY - DIAMOND PICNIC IN THE PARK 

The tension was palpable and the shouting reached fever pitch as the 'athletes' crossed the finishing line - this was an exciting finish!  Where are we, Trent Park of course at our great picnic when the weather behaved beautifully and so did we!   We enjoyed a variety of games, the skill of some would really make you think they had been practising for weeks - my skill on keeping the egg on the spoon excelled, alas to the detriment of getting any speed up and gloriously came last!
 
Almost 50 folks attended, past and present members and their children - possible future members perhaps?  We had an excellent selection of food and drink and a good time was had by all - myself included as I was in the last group to leave the park.
 
Many thanks to all the organisation that went into making such a perfect day. Winners who claimed first prize received a bottle of Cava.

 

3rd SEPTEMBER - DIAMOND PUB CRAWL AROUND BARNET

19 of us took part in the evening / night walk. Stopping along the way at The Railway Bell, Ye Olde Mitre, The Lord Nelson & Ye Olde Monken Holt. Many stayed out all evening and a good time was had by all.

Oct 2010 to Nov 2011 - HERTFORDSHIRE WAY

 To celebrate the fact that we were founded 60 years ago, this year we are walking the 166 mile Hertfordshire Way, one section each month. We started the first of 14 sections in Royston in October 2010 and will return there on the last section in November 2011. Many current members have done most of the sections.