Author: Tim Taylor

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[…]

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.

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”.

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. 

Carole Smithies writes: We have just heard that Dennis Gower died on 27th January 2024 aged 96.   When Dennis joined the Club in 1957, he was an Instructor at the OutwardBound Mountain School, at Watermillock Ullswater and his application form is full of climbs, walks and expeditions in the Lakes, Derbyshire, Scotland, Wales and Europe.  He later moved to Skye first as a mountain guide and then as anOutward Bound Instructor.

The Meetstaff Editor writes: May is often a fabulous time in the hills and as usual the Rucksack Club is aiming to make the most of it. We have four varied meets: We start the month (3-4 May) with a climbing meet based at our hut in the heart of Eryri, Beudy Mawr. The following weekend we have one of the highlights of the Club calendar, the President’s Meet, which this year will visit Lowstern, the Yorkshire Ramblers’ capacious purpose-built hut near Clapham. A week later (17-18 May) we have another climbing meet, this time on the Bleaklow plateau. We will be exploring the Grinah Stones, with an optional overnight bivvi. Finally for May (24-25), we have our Tidza Marathon – a back-yard ultra which demands a run around a loop of 4.6km with 120m of ascent once per hour, every hour, for 24 hours! The attached photo shows Lowstern Hut (Yorkshire Ramblers).           Andrew

Carole Smithies writes: Derek Overton’s funeral will take place on Thursday 17th April at Park Lane Crematorium, Regent Avenue, Lytham St Annes FY8 4AB at 1045am.  Family flowers only but donations in memory of Derek can be made to Climbers against Cancer on line, or to Unit 34, Lake District Business Park, Kendal LA9 6NH. Afterwards, all are welcome at the Bedford Hotel, Clifton Drive, Lytham St Annes FY8 1HN 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, who joined the Club in 1982, died on 30th March.