Author: Bill Deakin

Yes – its finally happened! You can now pay your hut fees for Beudy electronically. As well as the time honoured method of sending a cheque, you can make an e-payment. Pay ‘The Rucksack Club’ using sort code 20 55 41, account number 40599913 and reference your payment with your name, register page and number. No need to be long-winded – something like ‘Smith.P19L21, will enable me to identify the payment when I come to reconcile the account with the register entry (unless you’re a Llewellyn or a Cudahy, where an initial will be useful!). New payment slips, with full details of both methods of payment, have been prepared. Please note this is for Beudy only at this point in time – if it all works out, e-payments will be introduced at High Moss and Craigallan as well.

Happy New Year if I’ve not seen you! Bookings at Beudy for the first 4 months of the year (that is, up to the end of April) are:- This coming weekend (19th/20th January) – Gareth Llewellyn’s Club Meet. Contact Gareth for details. Jim Paxman has booked 6 places for the following weekend (26th/27th January. Thom Hall may be wanting 8 spaces for the weekend of 9th/10th February. Jim Schofield’s Club Meet is on 13th/14th April. Contact Jim for details. Thats it. No other bookings. Let me or Steve Gregory know if you want to use Beudy.

A Fire Safety Risk Assessment was carried out at Beudy just before Christmas. Because we take money in the form of hut fees, we fall under the definition of ‘business premises’ and are therefor subject to all kinds of legislation, including fire safety. The Assessment highlighted certain matters relating to electrical safety. These were a) modifying the fire detection system so that if one alarm went off, it would trigger all the other alarms, b) a requirement for an annual test certificate from a qualified person covering the fire alarm and emergency lighting systems and c) a requirement for a test certificate from a qualified person covering the whole electrical installation (this has to be done every 5 years). Do we have any qualified electricians in the Club who would be willing to carry out this work? If so, please contact me (details as per Handbook). Many thanks.

This coming weekend (7th-9th), Reading MC have booked 12 places for their annual get together in Wales. There are no other bookings as yet in December except that Barbara and I will be going to Beudy probably on New Years Eve and staying for a day or so. You are very welcome to join us. No problem if you want to go earlier/stay later. It will be a similar arrangement to last year – bring your own food and drink and do what you want. In January, Gareth Llewellyn is running a Club Meet on the weekend of 19th/20th. See Meetstaff or contact Gareth for details. Jim Paxman has booked 6 places for the weekend of 26th/27th. At present, there are no bookings in February or March. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from me and Steven.

Just a reminder that November is busy. Next weekend (3rd/4th), we have OBEC with 11 places booked, the following weekend (10th/11th) is the Club Dinner in Llanberis and we have had bookings for bedspaces from at least 10 Members up to now. Chris Foster’s Mines Meet is on the 17th/18th and Audrey Russell’s Meet is on the following weekend (24th/25th).

I’m away from the bookings calendar until the 15th October. If you want to book, please let Steven Gregory know. The latest bookings picture is: October – available throughout until 26/27/28 when Jackie and Mark Hatton will be running their Meet. Please contact them for details. November – 10 places have been booked by OBEC for the weekend of 3/4. Beudy is available for Members and their guests on the Club Dinner weekend (10/11) – 6 places have already been reserved. Let me or Steven know if you would like a place(s). Chris Foster’s Mines Meet is on the following weekend (17/18) and Audrey Russell’s is the weekend after (24/25). Contact Chris and Audrey for details. December – Reading MC have booked 12 places for the weekend of 8/9. Otherwise, Beudy is available until the New Year Meet, beginning on the 29th.

Here’s the situation (at present) up to the end of the year:- September – nothing except for the family meet being organised by Rob McGinnes on the weekend of 29th/30th. October – nothing except for Mark and Jackie Hatton’s MTB Meet on the weekend of 29th/30th. November – OBEC (Old Bromsgrovian Expeditionary Club) have booked 11 spaces on the weekend of 3rd/4th, the Hut is reserved for Members on the weekend of the Club Dinner (10th/11th). I have bookings for 6 spaces at present. Chris Foster’s Mines Meet is on the weekend of 17th/18th and Audrey Russell’s Meet is on the following weekend (24th/25th). December – Reading MC have booked 11 spaces on the weekend of 8th/9th. Nothing then until the New Year Meet commencing on Saturday 29th. Let me or Steve (or the appropriate Meet Coordinator) know if you want to make a booking.

This is the state of play up to the end of the year. 18/19 August – Club Meet, Steve Gregory. 29/30 September – Rob McGinnes booking for the whole hut. 27/28 October – Club Meet, Jackie and Mark Hatton. 10/11 November – Club Dinner weekend. 17/18 November – Club Meet, Chris Foster. 24/25 November – Club Meet, Audrey Russell. 29-31 December/1 January – New Year Meet. Which means there is plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy doing what you want in Wales. Just let Steve or myself know in advance if you want to make a booking.

Brian Cunningham has some very warm mitts and bootees from a South Pole trip that he would like to pass on. Contact Brian for details.

I’m away until the 9th of July. Please direct any Beudy enquiries to Steve during this time. Thanks.