Carole Smithies writes: Regret to say that Clive Lane died on the 6th June; his funeral took place on the 30th June. Clive became a Rucksacker on the 1st January 2021, when the Liverpool based Anabasis MC merged with the Rucksack Club.
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Welcome to “On the hill with…” a short interview with (current vice president) Peter Edgerton! How did you get into walking and climbing? A teacher at school, as is so often the case, took us out in the sixth form onto the local hills around Bury during our sports afternoon and one year helped us to arrange a trip around the Lake District in winter conditions which was a memorable experience. I had a school friend who did climbing and caving but a few days with him seemed to be about cold and discomfort! It was sometime later after university that a student friend got me out to climb at Froggatt as well as taking me on a trip to the Cairngorms for Munro bagging in some superb weather one Easter. I was well and truly bitten by the bug by this stage and started to do more trips with him, subsequently being introduced to Ski Mountaineering. Waiting for the Fuente De cable car with RC members Tony Cuddy, Gerry Goldsmith and Mary Edgerton Who has had the most influence on your mountain experiences? Lots of people stand out as being influential in my love of the hills and the[…]
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Welcome to the half year dip into the archive of club journals, this month 1965. The journal gives a concentrated selection to choose from. Two fine alpine seasons: Richard Harris on the South Ridge of the Aguille Noire de Peuterey, enchained with the East Face of the Grand Capucin; Bill Bowker warmed up on the Cassin Route on the Cima Ovest in a day, before an ascent of the South West (Bonatti) Pillar of the Petit Dru. Philip Brockbank enthuses on the attractions of Moorland Plateaux. Tony Moulam wites on his start in climbing, much with Peter Harding. Rod Wilson submits his paper on numeric grades, the beginning of modern grading. And another landmark, the club decides to buy a barn in the Lake District, to become the High Moss hut. “The June Club Night was used as an Extraordinary General Meeting to consider the proposed purchase of the High Moss Barn. There was much talking, both for and against, and good points were produced by both sides, but it was obviously felt that over 30 years was long enough to search for a hut in the Lake District and the proposal was finally carried.” However, my choice is Basil[…]
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The Meetstaff Editor writes: Our fabulous Dunnerdale hut, High Moss, features strongly in the Club’s programme for this July (see photo by Mark Baron): We begin the month (4-6th) with a family-friendly climbing weekend at High Moss Then we have a day walk (12th) traversing the Derbyshire moors, visiting cabins along the way (20 miles with 1000m+ of ascent) It’s back to High Moss over the weekend of 18th-20th for a family meet. And we end the month (25th-27th) at… High Moss! But this time it’s for an Arts Meet, reviving and broadening a past fixture in the calendar from painting to whatever artistic endeavour inspires our members – perhaps writing, music, acting, crafts, baking, knitting….
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Neil Goldsmith, the journal editor, writes: As prime holiday time approaches remember the Journal needs you to contribute. Reports of your trips and exploits written whilst they are fresh in the mind are required. Photos should be the highest resolution possible please. If you want to make the front or back cover, portrait format is best. Remember, the Journal is part of the record of the Club’s activies and provides a valuable reference for future generations. Contributions by December please. Neil
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The Meetstaff Editor writes: Stimulated by the superb weather in May, most of us need little encouragement to get out there, but our June programme provides that extra incentive: We begin (6-8 June) with a meet at our superb Lake District Hut, High Moss, focused on mountain biking. We have two meets over the weekend 13-15 June: the annual working meet at Beudy Mawr, our hut in central Eryri, and a road cycling meet (other activities also encouraged) at High Moss. The working meets are generally convivial occasions, with opportunities to get out onto the hills as well as to spruce up the hut for another year. The High Moss meet will surely be friendly and convivial too, in the true spirit of the Club. The weekend of 20-12 June is a real highlight in the calendar: our Gogarth Meet. This renown annual occasion has drawn dozens of members and aspirants from far and wide in years past to enjoy the climbing, walking, beach yoga and beach BBQ. Finally some of our fittest members are in training for an attempt on the Welsh 3000s – all the peaks in Wales over 3000ft – in a continuous round. This will take[…]
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Carole Smithies writes: Ann, Tony’s wife has sent the following message: “We will be giving Tony a send-off on Tuesday June 10th at 1.30pm. First quietly at the South Chapel Grenoside Crematorium, Sheffield. S35 8RZ, then perhaps more vigorously at the Old Horns, High Bradfield, S6 6LG Everyone will be welcome at either or both of these gatherings. No formal or sombre dress required. There will be the opportunity for a charitable donation instead of flowers.” Please let me know if you intend to go, so I can let Ann know. Tony Keddie, who joined the Club in 1998, died on Monday 12th May.
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Carole Smithies writes: I can now now confirm that Don’s funeral will take place at 10am on the 29th of May at Lawnswood Cemetery and Crematorium, Otley Road, Leeds LS16 6AH. We will then gather for refreshments at Weetwood Hall Hotel, Otley Road, Leeds LS16 6PS. If you intend to come, please let me know no later than 21st May, so I can let Don’s family know. There will be a collection at the funeral for the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team. However, if you wish, you can make a donation direct through their website at: llmrt.org Don Smithies, who had been ill for some time, passed away early on the morning of 10th May. Don was a Club member for 69 years, he joined in November 1955. He will I’m sure, be remembered by his contemporaries as, a “Compleater of Lists”.
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Welcome to “On the hill with…” a series of short interviews with members of the Rucksack Club. This edition features Margaret Hart, and of course her husband Mike, it’s rare they’re not on the hill without each other. Margaret is the current chair of YHA, and this Friday (9th May) is the Chair’s Challenge – a Yorkshire Three Peaks. Please follow the link below to contribute to the work YHA does (more details below). YHA charity fundraiser to help ALL children get an adventure away from home – JustGiving Margaret on Helm Crag, February 2025 How did you get into walking and climbing? I was brought up in Leeds. My father had been evacuated during the war to the Yorkshire Dales, years which he described as “the best years in his life”. He regularly took my siblings and myself for walks in the Dales, and also the Lake District and Snowdonia when on holiday. Alongside this, as an A’ Level geography student, we went to places such as the “Doline of Douky Bottom” above Littondale, the Norber erratics (above Austwick) and Stickle Beck and Tarn to study karst limestone and glacial features. But it was later, when my husband Mike[…]
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In addition to Carole’s note, the family have supplied a link to a much loved web page – https://derekmcwilliam.muchloved.com/ This provides opportunities to: * to make a donation to Derek’s charity, the John Muir Trust; * to add a reminiscence to the document; * to add a favourite photo of Derek in action. Carole Smithies writes: Derek McWilliam I can now confirm that Derek’s funeral will take place at St Thomas’s Church, Buxton Road, High Lane, Stockport SK6 8DX on the 9th May at 13.30. There will be refreshments afterwards at the Red Lion in High Lane, across the road from the church. Please let me know if you will be at the funeral, so we can let the family know. Contact details as in the handbook. Derek McWilliam died on 3rd April at the age of 91. Derek who joined the Club in 1991, resigned in 2019 because of ill health. I am sure many members, particularly our Wednesday Walkers will remember Derek. His partner Ann has specifically asked that no letters of condolence or cards are sent.
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