Author: Bill Deakin

Let me know if you are coming on the meet this weekend so that Steve can plan his job schedule and I can get food for Saturday’s evening meal and daytime snacks. Thanks

The recent closure of my local Barclays Bank branch and the lack of a Post Office in Charlesworth has meant it is very inconvenient to pay cheques in. Steve and I have decided that from now on, we will accept payments by bank transfer only (Barclays, sort code 20 55 41, account 40599913). Full details are shown at the hut, where there are payment slips to remind you. Hope you understand this decision.

Now that the good weather is here (!?*!), its an opportunity to catch up on the bookings at Beudy for the next 3 months. Its Mike Zeidan’s Club Meet this coming weekend (9th/10th) – contact Mike direct if you are interested. Colin Spencer is spending the night of the 12th there. Surprisingly, only 3 people (Jen Scottney and James Hall [2])have booked for the Easter weekend. Chris Alston and his family (7) will be there from the 19th to the 22nd, overlapping with Ian Wilson (7) who is there from the 22nd to the 24th. We welcome Hugo Schellevis and 2 companions from the Netherlands, who are staying from the 23rd to the 30th. The hut is free most of May and June – the only bookings so far are from Paul Freeman (on the 20th of May) and Mike Hartley’s party of 6 from the 25th to the 27th of May. Apart from the Working Meet on 10th to 12th June, there are no other bookings for that month. As usual, let me or Steve Gregory know if you want to make a booking.

Although the restrictions on hut numbers have been removed, it is important to understand that Covid has not gone away. Please read the revised Regulations for booking and using the huts on the website. At Beudy, please remember that you need to bring your own tea towels, pillows and bedding when staying in the hut. Antibacterial mattress protectors have been fitted on all the bunks. These are changed regularly. Steve and I understand that Members may still be wary of using or staying in Beudy. To try and address this, whenever we receive a booking request from more than one party for a certain date(s), we notify all concerned to encourage dialogue and to allow them to come to their own decisions. The fixed price tariff for electricity ends later this month and we will be on standard rates thereafter. There are no deals available. Our energy costs will dramatically increase. Even though the heaters are now fitted with timers, please think about whether you need them on at all. There is usually a large stock of wood for the fires. If you are at the hut and notice that this stock is getting low, please tell us and we[…]

Oops – Guy Fox-Kelly has booked 2 spaces for 23rd to 26th February, not the weekend. My mistake.

Here’s how its looking over the next couple of months – This coming weekend (22nd/23rd January), bookings have been made by Karen Rose (2), Mike Zeidan (3), Parminder Chaggar (2) and Simon Rogers (1). The following weekend 29th/30th January), the hut is at full capacity with a long standing (from 3 years ago!) booking from the YRC. In February, Sarah Crilley and Andy Wood have booked all the available spaces for the weekend of 5th/6th, Chris Alston and family have booked 7 spaces for Saturday the12th. Elizabeth Wilson has booked 2 spaces for the 24th to the 26th and Guy Fox-Kelly has reserved two spaces for the 26th to the 28th. Apart from Elizabeth Wilson’s booking for 2 places on the weekend of the 5th and 6th, March is all yours. As ever, please let Steve G or myself know if you want to make a booking.

Over New Year, I re-read Alan’s book. I cannot recommend it more highly to you. For those of you that know him, you might know what to expect. For those of you who don’t, it is a memoir covering his life and times. Part climbing history, part social history, with politics never far from both. For more details, go to https://alanhubbardauthor.co.uk – all profits are going to charity, notably Amnesty International and Medecins Sans Frontieres.

May I remind everyone that before you go to Beudy, please check with me or Steve Gregory beforehand. There have been instances recently where Members have been in the hut without our knowledge. In these Covid times, it is vitally important that we are able to maintain some degree of control, so that when a Member wants to make a booking, both Steve and I know that, to the best of our knowledge, the hut is ‘clean’. Thanks. Bill.

Gareth Llewellyn’s Meet at Beudy is not taking place now, so the hut is available on the weekend of 22/23 January. Please let me know if you wish to book. Bill