Club Meets

1954.—There were thirteen Club meets, three being at Low Hall Garth.  The year saw the creation of a drying room and the end of the florence cooker.  A policy encouraging the use of the hut by specified non-members was put into operation, with great benefit to the hut finances, and perhaps showing the way to effecting improvements with little cost to the Club funds.

The cottage warden gave keen attention to its welfare and development, and encouraged other members to do so.

The first meet of the year at Harden, Austwick, was dedicated to the Presi­dent’s first visit to Bar Pot and the assistant Secretary’s to Gaping Gill.  Other members used the time in less praiseworthy fashion practising for the Monte Carlo rally.

The January meet at the Hill Inn had about 30 members attending, splendid meals as usual, and blustery weather with snow showers.  Walks were done to Great Coum and to Penygent and elsewhere.

There was the usual outdoor after-dinner tour on the Saturday which was given a novel air by the early removal of an essential clue in the chain.  This spread the hunting packs far and wide, and was much enjoyed by those who weren’t involved.

Nine members attended the February meet at Low Hall Garth and enjoyed one good day in snow in the Great End gullies.

The High Force meet in March was well attended by about 20 members and guests and walks done to Mickle Gell and Caldron Snout.  Roberts led an expedition to investigate the sinks at White Force.

At various times during the Easter week-end about 20 members were in Glencoe, the greater part in camp ; and in the main they enjoyed fine weather and good views with numerous expeditions, but little snow.

The next meet was intended as a hardening process for younger members, being a seven peaks walk between Buckden and Dent.  The hardening process was started by the Landlord at the Inn, and the main party was glad to be away by 6.30 a.m.  Twelve completed the walk with four others doing slightly shortened versions.  Morbid sightseers were attracted to Dent and there were finally 24 present.  The best time was about 15 hours.  Thanks are due to those who surprised the walkers with their catering at the intermediate feeding points.  A memorable meet.

The Committee congratulates itself on the Skye week at Whitsuntide, having chosen the best place in Britain for weather.  Twelve camped at Coruisk and suffered from heat, midges, a little rain and some wind.  Most parts of the Coolin Ridge were visited at one time or another during the week, whilst some sampled the delights of idling on the shore.  Camp life was agree­ably primitive, there was a bulk supply of kippers and a fishy atmosphere.

The June meet was at Low Hall Garth.

In July there was a turn up of 19 at Braida Garth to do Rowton Pot.  There was a big stream running, but Fox and Wharldall, undismayed, performed many aquatic evolutions below whilst the remainder gossiped on the Bridge.  Ultimately there was a retreat to Notts Pot in a thick fog, but this also proved very wet indeed and no attempt was made on it.

The August Bank Holiday joint meet at Beudy Mawr was thinly attended.

Later in August there was a small meet at Low Hall Garth.

The joint meet at Robertson Lamb Hut in September had 17 Ramblers to try the new luxuries at the hut, but atrocious weather.  The small amount of climbing done was more akin to pot-holing ; nevertheless, it was a satisfying meet and comfortably organised.

The year’s last meet was at Harden with weather typical of the year, and about 15 members attending.  They entered Bar Pot but found the passage flooded at T Junction and no possibility of entering the Main Chamber.

The hut Warden held his annual feast at the re-named Three Shires Hotel followed by a conducted tour of the local night life.

About 46 attended the after dinner meet at Ramsgill on a day of low cloud.  A large party took a slow stroll to Goyden and How Stean.  Another party disappeared boldly into the mist and were next heard of disturbing the Presidential tea with demands for transport from up the valley.  Flushed by this success they also claimed to have bagged their peak.

1955.—Fourteen Club meets were held with the usual active attendance.  Two of these were at Low Hall Garth, where the standard of comfort continued to rise.  One member paid the Warden’s efforts the compliments of remaining for fifteen successive nights.

During the year G.B. Spencely had to relinquish the Wardenship tem­porarily.  A. Tallon earned the gratitude of the Club for carrying on the duties keenly and capably.

The first meet of the year, in December, was at Levisham.  Saturday was warm and sunny, one party walking to Goathland and back.  Sunday showed wet snow and rain.  Some people visited the Bridestones and afterwards all party members arrived at the Saltersgate Inn and sat in very close conference.

The January meet was at the Hill Inn with thirty-five attending, two parties doing the Three Peaks.  The Saturday after dinner period was taken more restfully than usual with a photographic competition and sing-song.  An award for the best climbing photograph was made to G.B. Spenceley, and for a pot-holing subject to A. Humphreys.  No award given for singing.

A party of eighteen arrived at Low Hall Garth in February attracted by the prospect of Driscoll’s catering, or a heavy fall of snow.  Saturday was magnifi­cent and a large party trudged through thick snow via Rossett Gill to Great End, where further progress in the soft snow of die gullies was inefficient.  Driscoll’s dinner was planned for 7 p.m. and the people returning at midnight were very well received in the circumstances.

There was a climbing practice at Almscliffe in March, the total attendance being about five.

The main March meet was at Low Row with fourteen attending.  The weather was brilliant, with considerable hard snow on the tops.  On the Satur­day a line was taken on the North side of the valley to Keld, and on Sunday along the South side.

The Easter meet was in Glen Lyon, nine in the hotel and a solitary camper.  The party searched desperately for ski-ing snow but were unlucky and reduced to walking.  Generally the weather gave clear mornings, but very thick after­noons.  On the Saturday the party climbed Schiehallion, and on Sunday having received careful instructions from Roberts, made a clean miss on Ben Lawers.  Amends were made the next day however, when two parties traversed Ben Lawers and the head of the Finn Glen in thick weather and in opposite directions, making an accurate rendezvous on the top of Ben Lawers.

In May, under promise of a longish day over the Pennine 2,500’s, a party of 21 stayed in Dufton and were fortunate in a beautiful day for the traverse Souths ward from Cross Fell to Mickle Fell with an evening return on the lip of High Cup Nick.

Since it had recently become news that G.B. Spenceley was joining the expedition to South Georgia, the evening was largely taken up with members drawing generously on their inexperience to advise him on his forthcoming tribulations.

At Whitsuntide, there was a camp on the shore at Coruisk for the second year in succession, the weather being even better than last year and hardships non-existent, except those due to excessive heat.  Nevertheless, Fox, Spenceley and a guest did the main ridge to Sligachan, returning the following day over Blaven.  Generally there was considerable activity in all directions up to and along the ridge.

In camp the party of 20 divided itself into those who toiled and those who only spun yarns.  In the evening the bottle circulated freely and by the end of the week it was noted that the party was short of sleep — the result of Alpine starts, late returns and the President’s addiction to night poaching.

One Sunday in June, 12 members took to the jungle at Guiscliffe.  All known climbs were done and one new one — Spiral.

The July meet at Lancaster Hole attracted sixteen, and the weather made it pleasant to stay outside.  Most of the party entered the pot on Saturday, but enthusiasm waned in the Sunday heat and a large body of opinion voted for idling in Ease Gill.  In contrast to this, five members made a rapid passage through to Ease Gill despite some doubts about the route.  A very fine per­formance in the circumstances.

Bank Holiday at Low Hall Garth was dedicated to the Lakeland 3,000’s.  In the event, only F.D. Smith completed the round, 18 hours 50 minutes, start to finish.  Other members did a large part of the round and were grateful for the successful catering arrangements.

Reports of the Brothers Water meet in September say that generally it was rather idle.  A few younger members climbed but their elders are said to have spent too much time on Striding Edge admiring feminine rather than scenic beauty.  In the evening local dart players were happy to earn their drinks at the Ramblers’ expense.

Nine members attended the joint meet at Robertson Lamb Hut in September.  The weather was mixed, but climbing was obtained on both days on Gimmer, Pavey Ark and White Gill.

North East Yorkshire had the usual meet when 17 arrived at Egton Bridge.  On Saturday a perfect day, the main party went round the head of Glaisdale and returned through Arnecliffe woods.  On Sunday there was a visit to Mallyan Spout where the President took the opportunity given by the stream to give a brief demonstration of the back crawl.

The hut Warden held his annual banquet at Elterwater on New Year’s Day.

In October, an expedition, half volunteers and half conscripts, led by Wharldall, discovered the Cheviots.  A very pleasant traverse of the Cheviot was carried out in splendid weather, some members climbing on Hen Hole.

1956.—Fourteen Club Meets were held, and showed a rising trend of attendances.

The after-dinner meet at Kilnsey was enormous and expeditions derived from the 85 members present covered Penygent, Malham, Great Whernside and several local caves.  Later C.R. Evans gave a fascinating commentary on his colour films of the Kangchenjunga expedition.  Finally the large, democratic, non-technical Projection Committee fused the lights.

The January meet at the Hill Inn unearthed a number of annual attenders to provide a total attendance of 40.  A colour film competition was won by H. Haslam, who also developed a fine colour during subsequent revels in the barn.

The Cottage was overflowing and exceedingly cheerful for the February meet: no complaint could be made of either the weather or Driscoll’s excellent catering.  Saturday saw an amazingly early start, and member frolicked in sunshine on Esk Hause and in the gullies of Great End and Crinkle Crags.  Sunday was again warm but distinguished mainly by a pleasant idleness.

The day meet at Brimham (11th March) drew only eight, but included a remarkable effort by the President.

The Easter Meet in Glen Nevis was blessed by four days of almost unbroken sunshine and splendid views.  The meet was widespread, the Himalayan Team luxuriating on the summit, others suffering hard frost in the Glen, and the President and some friends living a cycle ride away in the town.  A spartan routine prevailed, and great activity was observed in the gullies and on the ridges particularly by the Himalayans.

A one-day potholing training meet was held on 15th April at Newby Moss, and drew a mixed crew of greybeards and novices to burrow around in Pillar Pot and Fluted Hole.  A fortnight later there was a meet proper at Marble Steps.  A crowd of members ultimately became wedged in the lower passages, but were coaxed out by the imminence of closing time.

The Scottish Meet at Whitsun began in Inverness, whence a party of 24 travelled by bus to Dundonnell.  All awoke early next day and made a con­certed attack on An Teallach, the traverse of the ridge being much enlivened by mist and snow.  On the next day the meet decamped to Inclinadamff, with a few pleasant hours on Stac Polly en route.  From the new camp parties traversed Suilven and Canisp (from Little Assynt), Quinag (in a gale), and Ben More Assynt and Conival.  Some members were perplexed by the limestone of Traligill.  On the whole, a very enjoyable meet despite indifferent weather.

A total of 25 walkers turned out for the Cleveland Lyke Wake Walk, together with 10 supporting members distributed as victuallers along the route.  Despite low cloud and occasional rain all but two completed the course of 40 miles; the first man arrived in just under 12 hours, and three others in under 13.  All enjoyed excellent hospitality at the Raven Hall Hotel.

The weekend of July 13th-15th saw extensive activity in the Lancaster Pot — Ease Gill system, including the traverse of the through route by three parties.  A great number of flash bulbs were expended.

The Bank Holiday meet at the Cottage took place in doubtful weather, but a considerable number of routes were climbed, including some in Deepdale.

The Club’s first climbing meet in Cleveland took place on September 2nd, and drew 11 members to climb on the gritstone outcrops of Scugdale.

Many members enjoyed the hospitality of Harry Spilsbury and the Way­farer’s Club at R.L.H. in late September, despite high wind, rain and flying trees.

On October 11th Mrs.  Monica Jackson gave an extremely enjoyable lecture on “The Scottish Ladies’ Himalayan Expedition.”

A meet originally convened at the “Bull Hotel,” Sedbergh was modified to suit the underground enthusiasts, and in addition to much energetic moor-walking, a determined effort was made on Lost John’s system.  However, the pot was exceptionally wet and it proved impossible to proceed beyond the bottom of the ‘Battleaxe’ pitch, except perhaps in an irreversible fashion.

On November 30th members were entertained by an inspiring and well illustrated lecture by G.B. Spenceley on “The South Georgia Survey Expedition,” from which he had recently returned.

The December meet at Cray drew 14 members to walk in poor weather.

The year as a whole was marred only by an accident to D. Holmes in Lan­caster Pot.  Holmes is now making a slow but steady recovery.  We have once more to thank A. Tallon and his henchmen for continued improvement of the Cottage, extending now even to a kind of Club C.W.S, of tinned provisions.