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George runs London Marathon in aid of BLISS

After months of training and competing in local half marathons, Walford Timber�s MD, George Smith, recently completed the Virgin London Marathon in a time of

3 hours 53 minutes. George was running in support of the charity Bliss and managed to raise a massive £3303 for the charity.

George says �The training commitment was huge, but knowing how supportive and generous everyone had been with my fundraising really kept me focused and determined to put in the hard work for this fantastic charity.�

Bliss provide support for families with premature babies, as well as funding research in to how best to care for babies born too early, too small and too sick. It is a charity that George became aware of when his twin sons Ben and Sam were born 9 weeks early, requiring nearly 2 months in special care.

�The day was a fantastic experience, helped by the huge crowds that turned out to give their support� said George. �Having said that, I have never been so glad to see a finish line in my life, although to be personally greeted with a hand shake from Richard Branson as we crossed the line was a really nice touch.�

George raised funds through Virgin Money Giving and his page can be found here: www.virginmoneygiving.com/georgesmith4

For more information about Bliss please see www.bliss.org.uk

Total Star Radio - 50 Shades of Shed - Great Success

Total Star FM recently ran a '50 Shades of Shed� competition, in association with Walford Timber�s sales outlet, Cheltenham Fencing. Members of the public had to write in with a use for a Walford Premier Shed. The competition was a great success; with lots of very interesting entries. The winner was Ralvin Thomas, with a very amusing story of a fox living under his old shed.

Simon French and Graham Watling from Cheltenham Fencing were joined by Gregg and Damian from Total Star at Ralvin�s house to celebrate the win. Ralvin treated them to some refreshments, and they all participated in some entertaining Gangnam Style dancing! Check out the videos below of all the guys in action!

Congratulations Ralvin!

Ross-on-Wye 10k run 'a great success'

The re-scheduled Ross-on-Wye 10k run held on Sunday the 23rd September has been hailed �a great success� by the event organisers. The event kicked off with a one mile fun-run and saw everyone from toddlers and parents with push chairs to young teenagers who stormed around the course. Following this the main 10k run started at 11am (about 5 minutes after the rain started to fall!) This saw a competitive field of around 145 runners meander along the beautiful and challenging Wye Valley course. First home was Kim Mazzuca, competing as a CaniX competitor (harnessed to a husky type dog), who is training for the European CaniX Championships in a time of 35 minutes and 48 seconds. The first un-assisted runner home and winner of the event was Peter Woodward of Cinderford in a time of 39 minutes and 7 seconds.

The event received great feedback from the runners, and with 100% of the entry fee going to the Acorns Childrens Hospice, we are delighted to announce that £2500 has been raised for this great cause. Thank you to all who entered, supported and organised this great event, we look forward to seeing you next year!

Ross 10k run re-scheduled!

We are delighted to announce that the Ross-on-Wye 10k run and fun run has been re-scheduled for Sunday 23rd September 2012. The original run due to take place in June was cancelled due to the flooding of the Wye valley course. The fun run will start at 10.15am followed by the 10k run at 11am. Everyone previously entered can enter again free of charge, and those not able to make the original run have the fantastic opportunity of taking part in a run in the spectacular Wye Valley in the knowledge that your entry fee is going to a great cause, the Acorns Childrens hospice. To enter please go to www.rossonwye4acorns.co.uk

Our Graham rows for the Queen!

Graham Watling, manager of our Cheltenham Fencing branch was honoured to be selected to row in the Queens Diamond Jubilee river pageant. Graham was rowing in The Hereford Bull, a Wye Trow replica built specifically for the event. These boats were traditionally built to carry cargo on the Wye and would have been either wind, horse or man powered.

"It was an honour to take part in what surely will be a once in a lifetime experience" said Graham. "The atmosphere was fantastic and there was a real camaraderie amongst the other vessels taking part. We all feel that we have played our part in history."

A video of the Trow taking part in the pageant was produced and can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDyNpbeQoUQ

Ross-on-Wye 10k run washed out by the river Wye!

We regret to inform you that the Ross-on-Wye 10k run and fun run 2012 has been postponed to due the flooding of the river Wye. Sections of the course itself as well as the start / finish area have been completely flooded, as well as the road leading to the marshalling area. Please keep an eye on the Ross-on-Wye 4 acorns website for further details about the rearranged event: http://www.rossonwye4acorns.co.uk/index.asp

Incising initiative is top fencing news

A project undertaken by Walford Timber (backed by Osmose) on the effects of incising spruce for better treatment penetration and increased service life, has come into fruition landing them the front page of the trade magazine; Fencing News. Incised spruce posts will become part of the PermaTimber range and will carry the same 15 year guarantee.

Click below images below for the full article.

Fencing News Front Cover

Fencing News Main Article

Walford Timber named main sponsor of the Ross 10k run and fun run for second year running!

Ross 10k Run and Fun run - Sunday June 10th 2012

We are delighted to announce that after the success of the inaugural Ross 10k Run and fun run we are once again the main sponsors for this fantastic event. Despite the dire weather there was a great turnout for last years event, culminating in a sizeable dontation to the Acorns Childrens Hospice, the cause for which the event was created.

With the experience of last year under the management committees belt and greater preparation time, this years event promises to be bigger and better in every way. Numbers are expected to double this year, and runners will notice a more professional set up all round. There will be stalls selling merchandise, physio tents, running gait performance monitoring, instructor lead warm up, and much more of interest to compliment the running events along one of the most beautiful stretches of the Wye valley.

The event is ultimately run for a great cause, with all profits going to the Acorns Childrens Hospice, so get your running shoes on and enjoy this fantastic and unique sporting event in the beautiful Wye valley. For more information about Acorns click here: www.acorns.org.uk

For more information about the event and to enter click here: http://www.rossonwye4acorns.co.uk/index.asp

Walford Timber help bring The Gruffalo to Dean Heritage Centre!

The Dean Heritage Centre has created a fantastic new trail and interactive display (with a little help from Walford Timber!) The Gruffalo trail, which was opened on 31st March 2012 by Rugby star Phil Vickery, includes giant chainsaw carvings of the Gruffalo and the other characters from the Julia Donaldson book, as well as interactive dsiplays depicting scenes from the book.

Walford Timber have donated materials and fencing products to assist the centre with the creation of the trail, and we look forward to seeing the finished trail soon.

So, if you are in the area during 2012, make sure you drop into the Dean heritage centre and see the skilled work of the chainsaw carvers and other artists - but watch out for the Gruffalo!

For more information visit www.deanheritagecentre.com

New moulder up and running!

After 40 years of hard work our old Robinson 6 head moulder has been retired, and has been replaced with a newWadkin XE220 moulder. The installation was completed just before Christmas, and the modern machine was straight to work producing Tongue and Groove, Decking, Shiplap and �D� Rail. It will also be used to produce our capping rails for both closeboard fencing and fence panels, stock walling and kennel rails for the agricultural / dairy markets, as well as for general planing and profiling purposes.

The Wadkin is a 6 head moulder, with capacity to run at up to 60m per minute, and has the benefit of quicker and easier changes between the various profiles. We can machine up to 9� x 5� sections, including dry and wet softwoods.

The replacement is part of a phased upgrade to improve both production and safety levels and brings us right up to date with moulding technology, providing our customers with a first class finish and a quick turnaround.