100 CLUB INFORMATION
DARTMOOR LETTERBOXES
PREFACE.
Recent years have seen some changes, the most significant being the production by Dartmoor National Park Authority of a Letterboxing Guide “Letterboxing with Moor Care and Less Wear”, which is available from all D.N.P.A.Information Centres, a revised set of Codes of Conduct, the monitoring of Fund Raising Walks by D.N.P.A. (application forms available from us or D.N.P.A.), and the introduction of a Re-Registration system of Dartmoor Letterboxes.
This re-registration system means that all letterboxes sited on the Moor are registered for a maximum period of five years. After that time, they should either be re-registered for a further period, or removed from the Moor. This will mean that if you own a letterbox that has been on the Moor for five years and would like it to remain for a further period, you should re-register it again by sending us the details i.e.: Name of Letterbox, Registered Number, Owners Name, Address & Tel: number. Period to be re-registered for (Max. 5 years), and any alteration to existing clue.
We again remind all Letterboxers to adhere to the Codes of Conduct, and as they have been revised, please read them again carefully and keep to the rules. Our boxes are DARTMOOR letterboxes, so if you put out a box do please keep it connected with a DARTMOOR theme, and remember, if you do put out a box, you are also responsible for its maintenance, so don’t forget to put a contact name and phone number or address in the visitor’s book.
It is YOUR responsibility to keep your box in good order. The information in the Catalogue is only as accurate as received and cannot be guaranteed. If you bring your box in, then please don’t forget to tell us, and if you find a box missing then please let us know that as well, we rely on all Letterboxers to help keep information up to date.
CATALOGUE. The catalogue of Letterbox clues is obtainable from Sylvia Moore, 25 Sanderspool Cross, South Brent, Devon. TQ10 9LR. Price of Catalogue is £8.00, which includes postage and packing
THE 100 CLUB.Letterboxing is in a continuance of change. 2009 saw the closure of the North Dartmoor ring road. Despite a wonderful petition with people responding from all over the world, and from a diversity of occupations and interests regarding Dartmoor, we lost the bid to keep it open. We can now park in the car park below Row Tor, just off the track to Cullever Steps and a few cars at Hart Tor/OP22. Access to the remote parts of the North moor are now only for the fit and strong of us.
The weather at the end of 2009 was atrocious with a recorded 52 consecutive days of rain. Lets hope 2010 is drier.
The Re-registration of boxes that have been on the moor for over 5 years has ceased. With the amount of boxes being entered into the catalogue and deleted from it, it has become self governing and keeps to a fairly constant number of live boxes.
Most of you will know that our venue for the Bi-Annual Meets is returning to Princetown in the new Community Centre. The hall at Lee Moor has accommodated us very well after the closure of the Prison Officers Club, but it will be good to be back up on the moor again for this event.
Parking at the hall is almost non- existent, so it is suggested that you use the village car park, only a “stones” throw away.
Click on Catalogue/ and catalogue of clues page - main catalogue, Catalogue is now £7.00 plus £1.00 postage and packing.
“100 CLUB” FOR DOGS. Membership of “The 100 Club” has been extended to include our canine friends. Dogs who have visited 100 different “Letterboxes” with their owners can now become members of the 100 Club. They will then be entitled to wear “100 Club” dog tags on their collars. These are available from Brian Cole, of 51 Forcefield Road, Cullompton, Devon. EX15 1QB. (Tel: 01884 32582). Price £2-00p. The reverse side can be engraved at an additional cost of 3p per letter or figure. Any one interested please contact Brian Cole with a SAE and he will allocate your dog its membership number, and supply the collar tag.
“THE MEET”.
After many years the Letterbox Meet will be returning to Princetown. The Spring Meet will be on Sunday 28th March 2010 at the new Community Centre, commencing at 10am. The return is being welcomed by not only by the Letterboxing Fraterniry, but also the Pubs and Caf'es in the village.
For those individuals and organisations wishing to put out a Charity Letterbox Walk in the Spring, please remember to obtain permission from D.N.P in plenty of time. Contact Sue Bishop 01626 831006, or visit their website www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk
For more details on hiring stalls at the Meet contact Stephanie & Roger Paul 01647 231080. Email: rogerpaul@eprimus.co.uk
“DARTMOOR LETTERBOXES”. To have your letterbox registered and entered into the Catalogue and Updates, please send the details to Angela Allderidge:- 20 Kestrel Gardens, Bishops Green, Newbury, Berkshire. RG20.
“TRAVELLERS”. Will those who wish to have their “travellers” ‘registered’ in the records please send 2 copies to Angela Allderidge, who will number them, they will then be entered into the Updates and Catalogue of Dartmoor Travelling Letterboxes, (available from Tony @ £3-50 + 50p post & packing ). PLEASE NOTE - TRAVELLERS are no longer listed in the Catalogue.
CATALOGUE UPDATES. Are available monthly direct from Angela Allderidge:- 20 Kestrel Gardens, Bishops Green, Newbury, Berkshire. RG20 4AG. 01635 269340. All cheques payable to M.Allderidge.. If you want them simply send a supply of stamped addressed envelopes, plus 40p per issue to cover photocopying, quoting your “100 Club” membership number (if known) when applying.
Magnetic bearings are used throughout the catalogue, and can be used directly with a magnetic compass. However to plot any of the bearings used onto your map, about 3°, the magnetic variation, must first be subtracted. Conversely when taking a bearing off the map this must be added.
Please keep your compass well away from any metal objects when taking your bearings, otherwise a compass error may result.
NATIONAL GRID. A grid reference is used to identify an area on an Ordnance Survey map. Most of the grid references in the catalogue, (which follow the box
names), consist of six figures. This will locate an area of 100 metres x 100 metres, in which the box should be. To plot a grid reference on to your map, using an example of 578? 742?, take the first set of 3 figures, and working from the Left (West) of your map, to the Right (East) of your map, find the vertical grid line with the first 2 figures (57) in the group of 3, in the top or bottom margins, then using the appropriate calibrations on most good compasses, or by estimation, plot the 3rd digit (8), in tenths of the square, onto your map (distance A on the sketch). Now using the same system
with the second set of 3 figures, but this time working from bottom (South) of your map, to the top (North) of your map, and using the figures in the Left or Right margins, and the horizontal grid lines. After plotting the final digit (2), (distance B on sketch), you should have your pointer near North Hessary Tor! If not try again.
When the grid reference of a letterbox is not given, instead of inserting ???? ???? in the clue, we have changed it to ?______)., this will allow you to fill in the grid reference once you have established where the box is.
