Category: Featured Meets

Carole Smithies writes: Sad to report that Vin Birtles died on the 22nd February, just 2 weeks after the death of his wife Sylvia.  Vin who was 90 last year, joined the Club relatively late in life in 1982.  But he more than made up for that in the years that followed, leading, and joining in, many meets.  He also served on the Committee from 1985 to 1987. It was Vin’s wish that he should have a direct, that is, an unattended cremation. However, there will be a service in his memory at St. Aidan’s Church, Manchester Road, Sudden, Rochdale OL113EL at 11am on Friday 7th March, followed by a gathering at the Success to the Plough, Bolton Road Rochdale OL113LW.  Please, let me know if you intend to go, so we can let the family know.  Contact details as in the handbook.

The final episode in the 24/25 Indoor Meets Season is at 7.30pm on Tuesday 11 March, when we travel to Africa for an ascent of Mt Kenya. Mark Jenneson and Rich Clegg are recently returned from their equatorial excursion, and will recount the unique challenges of climbing a mountain with one side in full summer whilst the other is shrouded in winter. Once again entry is completely FREE and open to EVERYONE! Tell your friends and bring them along. Each Slideshow this season features a raffle, with all proceeds going to a climbing related charity. The February event will support Mountain Rescue England and Wales https://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/ The show will commence at 7.30pm, so how about coming along early to grab a few routes (did you know Rucksack Club members get concessionary rates?) or to enjoy a chat over a brew, pizza or ice-cream in the cheerful cafe? Breaking News – I know that a number of Rucksack Club regulars (mentioning no names) enjoy a little tipple as an accompaniment to a Slideshow. They will be pleased to hear that they are welcome to bring BYO refreshments to the show, with the obvious proviso that there is NO CLIMBING AFTER DRINKING[…]

Huge thanks again to Mark, Joe and Andy for a brilliant Slideshow on Tuesday evening. The room at Summit Up was full to bursting, and we squeezed in another 20 or so with the magic of Zoom. If you missed out, you can now watch the show on catch up: As well as brightening up a February evening, the event also raised £115 for Urban Uprising (thanks to Netty and Gareth on raffle duty!) You can read about the great work that they do (and chip in with a donation if you are inspired!) here: https://www.urbanuprising.org/ Next up, for the season finale, we’ve got Mark Jenneson and Richard Clegg relating the tales of their recent mission to Mt Kenya. Tuesday 11 March: A Grand Traverse of Mount Kenya – Mark Jenneson and Rich Clegg. (at Summit Up, Oldham and on Zoom).

The Meetstaff Editor writes: February can be a great month for winter mountaineering in Scotland, so we start and end the month with weekend meets at our fabulous Scottish hut, Craigallan (pictured). In between we make good use of our great hut in Eryri (Snowdonia), Beudy Mawr, for our mine exploration meet and a running meet, both weekend meets also.   But for a little climbing, cycling or running in the sun – we hope – we have a week-long meet in Costa Blanca towards the end of the month! Best wishes          Andrew Beckett          Meetstaff Editor

Next up in the Indoor Meets Season at 7.30pm on Tuesday 11 February, we’ve got a brilliant Double Bill: Britain’s Finest Seacliffs? – Mark Hounslea will take us on a journey to explore Pabbay and Mingullay in the Outer Hebrides. Half Day Men – Andy Barlass and Joe Fisher will share tales from their Climbing and Trekking in the Khumbu Himalayas including an ascent of Lobouche East at 6,119m Something for everyone, and once again entry is completely FREE and open to EVERYONE! Tell your friends and bring them along. Each Slideshow this season features a raffle, with all proceeds going to a climbing related charity. The February event will support Urban Uprising https://www.urbanuprising.org/ who’s mission is Elevating and inspiring young people through climbing The show will commence at 7.30pm, so how about coming along early to grab a few routes (did you know Rucksack Club members get concessionary rates?) or to enjoy a chat over a brew, pizza or ice-cream in the cheerful cafe? Breaking News – I know that a number of Rucksack Club regulars (mentioning no names) enjoy a little tipple as an accompaniment to a Slideshow. They will be pleased to hear that they are welcome[…]

Carole Smithies writes: I am sure many of our older members will remember Dorothy, Vin Dillon’s wife.  Vin was President of the Club in 1972 and 73 and the founder of our High Camps, — his first was in 1964 and we’ve had 60 more since.  I regret to say Dorothy, who was 90, died on the 10th January after a very short illness.  Her daughter Sally says her mother really enjoyed her association with the Club and that she and Vin made many lifelong friends whilst pursuing their passion for walking and climbing with Club members.  So, she has asked us to publish the details of Dorothy’s funeral, in case any members want to attend. The funeral will take place at 11am on the 4th of February at the Birches Remembrance Park and Crematorium, Birches Lane, Northwich CW9 7SU.  There will a gathering afterwards at Biddulph Grange Country Park, Grange Road, Biddulph ST8 7SD, where Dorothy volunteered for many years. Please let me know if you do intend to go, so I can let the family know.  Alternatively let me know if you want Sally’s contact details. Carole

A huge thank you to everyone who came along to join in the Hard Rock fun on Tuesday – around fifty folks made the trip to Summit Up, Oldham and another thirty or so tuned in on Zoom. If you missed the show you’ll find it here https://vimeo.com/1047412026 or just click on the “Get Out There” tab and select “Virtual Meet Gallery” to view the whole back catalogue. Next up on Tuesday 11 February, we’ve got a brilliant Double Bill: Britain’s Finest Seacliffs? – Mark Hounslea will take us on a journey to explore Pabbay and Mingullay in the Outer Hebrides. Half Day Men – Andy Barlass and Joe Fisher will share tales from their Climbing and Trekking in the Khumbu Himalayas including an ascent of Lobouche East at 6,119m Something for everyone, and once again entry is completely FREE and open to EVERYONE! Tell your friends and bring them along. Each Slideshow this season features a raffle, with all proceeds going to a climbing related charity. The February event will support Urban Uprising https://www.urbanuprising.org/ who’s mission is Elevating and inspiring young people through climbing 7.30pm at Summit Up, Oldham and on Zoom. See you there!

We’re pleased to make available a recently published book in which the Rucksack Club played a major part in the early days of the subject – Mountain Rescue in Scotland – by Bob Sharp.  This is an updated and expanded edition of Bob’s earlier history of mountain rescue in Scotland.   It now includes a section on the development of mountain rescue (across the UK) from the 1930s to the 1980s; a period when several Rucksack Club members including iconic figures such as Wilson Hey and Eustace Thomas played an instrumental part.  Bob has also included an historical account of all (bar one) the Scottish teams and Associations from the year they were founded up to the present day. The book is now part of the Rucksack Club Archives, click HERE to read it. A printed copy is available at £15 +pp, please use the Contact Us button under the About option on the top level menu of the website and we’ll put you in touch with Bob. Bob with Breac.

Carole Smithies writes: I regret to announce that Tony Moeller died on the 1st October last year.  Tony, who was 90 when he died, joined the Club in 1958. A full obituary will appear in the 2025 Journal.