IN MEMORIAM
Sydney James Farrer
We regret to record the death in late December, 1946, of Sydney James Farrer, an Honorary Member since 1939. When a boy of seven he saw Martel descend Gaping Gill and the photograph of Martel on the ladder published in the last Y.R.C.J. (No. 24) was taken by his father.
He was active in public life and served as a County Councillor. He had done a good deal of ski-ing and climbing, while to the exploration of pot-holes with which his Ingleborough Hall estate is so closely connected he gave the friendliest interest and support. We owe him a great deal for much good service in affording access by his private roads. At the little Jubilee Dinner in 1942 at Clapham, Farrer was one of the few who could attend.
Frank Constantine
Frank Constantine was for fifty-five years a Yorkshire Rambler, and for twenty-six years one of the Secretaries. Elected a member in 1893, he served from 1894 to 1920, then a year on Committee, and as Vice-President 1921-23.
The long Joint Secretaryship between Constantine and Lewis Moore was a very happy one in every way, as with the advice and guidance of the Alpine Club it contributed so largely to the success of the Y.R.C. The scope of the Club’s activities in mountaineering, pot-holing, and ski-running extended, and membership and interest increased. Election to membership became a coveted honour. During this time an increasing number of distinguished Alpinists and travellers visited the Club giving added keenness to the members and interest to the public.
Connie’s organising powers were first-class. A delightful man to work with, hard working and enthusiastic, he took endless pains in running the show and in giving his genius for friendship full play.
An untiring walker, but not a climber, though his love of mountains and open spaces was very keen, his knowledge of Great Britain was extensive, as he tramped everywhere to innumerable Club meets and camps, visiting also Norway and
Switzerland for ski-ing when the sport attracted a limited number of English runners.
A breakdown in health led to his retirement at a com paratively early age, and after a long illness he died in March, 1948. His friends will never forget his cheery and unselfish help in all circumstances. – A.E.H.
Percy Robinson
Percy Robinson, one of the stalwarts of the Club, died on 28th February, 1949. His death is a real loss to the Y.R.C. He was an expert camper and legendary as cook and caterer at Gaping Gill meets and elsewhere. Once a racing cyclist, he became a skilled performer on rope ladders in the heroic age of 1904-1908. The picture of him on a ladder by the Ledge in Gaping Gill has been a widely-used slide and illustration.
He was remarkable for his accurate recollection of early descents and we owe to him the knowledge of the two descents into the East Slope Pot before the First War by Hastings and Horn, to which they attached no importance.
It was his advice also which brought the narrow Botterill ladders into use on a large scale in Mere Gill in 1912 in place of the old heavy 12-inch type. He was one of the pair at the winch in 1913 lowering Tom Booth and then Wingfield to the Buttress while Hastings manipulated a tail line from the floor of G.G.
In the Kaiser’s War he served for two years in France as motor cyclist with the R.A.F. Percy was Vice-President 1922-24, and continued to attend our Meets up to the last.
H. H. Bellhouse
A memoir of our President, 1927-29, appeared on p. 161, Vol. VII in the last number, but a portrait was not then available.
Web note I have now added the picture to H.H. Bellhouse’s obituary in No 24.
Francis Sidney Smythe
Many of us remember so well Frank Smythe’s apprenticeship on Almscliff through the winter of 1920, that it is a painful shock to learn of his death on June 27th.