Author: Bill Deakin

There are three big trees VERY close to Beudy on our neighbour’s land. One fell down recently (fortunately the right way). I have written to to the neighbours twice but there has been no reply. The properties on either side of Beudy are vacant. I am worried about the condition of the trees. The local authority is not interested because it does not affect the highway and the National Park has not responded to any of my requests. I know it’s the owners responsibility but they do not seem interested. I want an inspection carried out out by a qualified arborist. Do we have any in the Club willing to have a look? As a side issue, there are some major overhanging branches that need attention and again I would appreciate some advice. Please let me know if you can help.

A very belated Happy New Year from me and Beudy! Here’s how things stand for the next couple of months. Thom Hall is in this weekend with a party of 8, then it’s two successive Club Meets – Andy Quicke (14/15) and Mike Zeidan (21/22). Contact them for further details. Things are pretty quiet then until mid March when Bedford MC have booked 11 spaces. Our old friends the OBEC club have have booked the whole hut for the weekend of 28/29 March, which means they have been coming to Beudy for over 50 years now! April is busy. There are 10 (plus the 3 overspill) spaces available for the Easter weekend and 6 (plus 3) available on the weekend of 18/19 April. In May, there are 7(plus 3) spaces available on the Early Bank Holiday weekend, then it’s Andy Stewart’s meet on the 9th/10th. The hut is fully booked the following weekend (16/17), empty at present on the Spring bank Holiday long weekend of 23-25 May. There are 6 (plus 3) spaces available on the last weekend of 30/31. So – it’s reasonably busy. Maybe it’s the full fibre broadband, maybe it’s the dual air fryer, but really I[…]

The chimneys were swept last week by an approved contractor as part of the standard maintenance routine. The sweep reported that the lounge stove was in a very poor condition, so much so that he issued a warning notice about it. The stove has been removed from the flue and I will be collecting it in the next few days. Obviously, it and the hearth should not be used – there is a notice from the sweep fixed to the stove. In the meantime, if you want to use the lounge but are feeling cold in there, do as we do ‘oop North and put another jumper on! The dining room stove is working fine. I’ll update you when the damage to the stove has been assessed. It may be capable of repair. If not, a replacement will be sought.

If you haven’t already got one, you can obtain your 2026 Club Calendar(excellent photographs of Club members ‘getting out there’ and showing all the weekend meets) from many climbing walls. If you can’t make it to one, just transfer £12 (£10 for the calendar, £2 for postage) to Barclays, account number 40599913, sort code 20 55 41, account name Rucksack Club. Let me know you’ve done that and I’ll get one in the post to you straightaway. All proceeds go to ‘Climbers Against Cancer’ which helps fund cancer research worldwide. Thanks and a Happy New Year to you all.

Following my post of 3rd December about the Club 2026 calendar, I’d like to thank you both for contacting me to get hold of them. I’m sure there are others who have purchased them from a local wall, a Club event or direct from the CAC shop. I still have most of that box of calendars left, so if you want me to send you one (or even more), transfer £12 to Barclays, account number 40599913, sort code 20 55 41, account name Rucksack Club and let me know. Thanks and seasons greetings to you all.

I’ve just had a delivery of another box of Club calendars which I’d like to get rid of as soon as possible! I know many of you have already got one either from me, through Club events, from a wall or from the CAC shop. Thank you. There are still hundreds of Members who still haven’t got one. It doesn’t take much effort. Some people have said they don’t need to buy one because they use a desk diary or an app. Does your alternative have all the Club Meets on it with stunning inspiring pictures? No – it doesn’t. The other thing I’ve been accused of is ‘shaming’ Members into buying one by the tone of my previous posts. If you have felt like that, please accept my apologies if I touched a nerve or caused offence. It’s not about that – it’s more about what I perceive as a general lack of engagement by Club Members. It’s always been like that but I’ve noticed over the last five or so years, a marked disinterest in Club activities. Poor attendances at Meets, lack of interest at anything the Club has to offer – a lot of people seem to[…]

It’s that time of the year when Mr and Mrs Mouse and the family start looking for somewhere warm to stay. I would prefer it if they choose another property, but as long as people leave food around when the hut is unoccupied, Beudy becomes their favourite. In recent weeks, Members have left food out and have not bothered taking their waste with them. Please remember that Beudy is not a serviced AirBnB type place – you might think it because of the great work Audrey and Mike Russell do in keeping the hut in such a great condition. Just observe the ‘leaving checklist’ that is on the blackboard at the entrance. Thanks.

Following my previous post about Members not buying the Club’s 2026 Climbers Against Cancer calendars, the one where I got wound up about 90% of you not bothering, I can report that at least another 20 odd of you have done the right thing thing and bought one. On behalf of CAC, many thanks. So – what is it with the rest of you? Is £10 (£12 if you want one posted) going to break the bank? Come on – you don’t have to do much to get one. At the moment, there are about 400 odd of you who haven’t been able/bothered up to now. Not all of you might be climbers but I’m sure all of you know what a killer/life changer cancer is , so give us your support. It’s not as if you aren’t getting something in return – the calendar is brilliant! Can’t wait to deal with your orders. Thanks. Bill

After Andy Stewart’s recent Indoor Meet and last weekend’s Annual Dinner, I reckon we’ve sold 50 or so calendars to Members. That leaves about 500 Members of the Club who haven’t got one yet! So – come on, get yourself a calendar. They are available for £10 at various climbing walls up and down the land, but if you can’t get to those, simply transfer £12 (includes £2 postage) to the Rucksack Club Community account (account number 40599913, sort code 20 55 41) then email me (billdeakin@yahoo.com), and I’ll put one in the post to you. Not only will you be supporting Climbers Against Cancer (because every penny of that £10 goes to them), you will be able to look at at what Club Members were up to in 2025. Plus – all next year’s Meets are shown, so you will have no excuse for not ‘Getting Out There’! Looking forward to being inundated with your requests!

Just a reminder that I will be bringing some 2026 Calendars and a selection of Climbers Against Cancer merchandise to the Meet next Tuesday. Calendars are £10 each and every penny goes to CAC. If you can’t make the Meet or the Dinner on the 8th, I can post a calendar to you – send £12 to the Beudy account (40599913, sort code 20 55 41) and I’ll sort it out. Thanks. Bill