THIS year the annual walk around the lake and back to the Miners Memorial at the Northern Quarter will be held on December 21 at 2pm.

At the memorial the names of men who lost their lives working at Northern United will be read during a short service.

This year marks the shortest day, December 21, and the anniversary of when Maurice Meek was tragically killed.

Maurice’s tragic death followed the fate of his older brothers, Sydney and Newton who were killed in the First World – Sydney in Mesopotamia (Iraq) on February 10, 1917 with 7th Glosters and Newton near Soissons in France on July 23, 1918 with 1st Herefords.

Members of the public wishing to attend the walk can meet at the fishermen’s car park.

It would be advisable to wear warm clothes and suitable footwear because while we will request the Forestry Commission, the Forest of Dean District Council and the Homes and Communities Agency to move back the fences off the footpath alongside the lake, they may again force the public to walk through the rough and muddy detour.

– Cllr Andrew Gardiner, (Ind), Forest of Dean District Council, Lydbrook and Ruardean.