Saturday 17th May

A gang of 8 assembled at M&FM for the day's activities in glorious weather conditions. Martin R and Eddie headed off to Alresford on the line inspection, with Keith H and Peter Alton bound. This left Ian J, John, and Adrian to load up the van and go straight down to Alresford and the A31 embankment  to start work (with a couple of diversions along the way to view progress on the new waiting shelter at Ropley, and call in at our Hi Viz garment supplier at Gundleton).

On site, Ian unleashed the strimmer on the top of the embankment working towards Ropley, whilst John and Adrian removed and reduced the size of the timber infill panel above the chimney breast of the  'Arleside' hut, to accommodate an additional course of bricks on the top of the chimney breast. Following the customary refreshments at Alresford, they were joined by Neil, who began laying bricks in earnest, having at last been given a fresh supply of bricks to finish off the construction of the chimney stack.

With the gang back in full force in the afternoon and joined by Keith B, Keith H and Adrian wielded chainsaws, carrying on with bank clearance towards Ropley, with Keith B and Martin burning the cut material, Ian strimming, and Eddie cutting the dense areas of thin growth too small in section to be cut with the chainsaws.

Neil managed to lay 6 courses of bricks on the chimney stack (7 to go + the decorative corbelled courses) and the additional course to the chimney breast ably assisted by John, who also managed to fit in welcomed tea making duties, and the pointing in of gaps between the concrete floor and the walls of the hut.