AGM and Dinner Meet Report

The weekend started casually with members gathering in the Hawkshead Brewery for a quiz presented by our President, Richard Wheeldon. It was a great fun evening and a pleasant way to ease into the weekend, renew acquaintances, and make new ones, all washed down with some splendid beer.

Quizzers gathered at Hawkshead Brewery in Staveley
(Far: Colin Densem, Steve Scott, and Keith Sanders
Near: Ian Athroll, Steve Blackman, and Steve Crossley)

Paul Hallos, Keith Sanders, and Pete Sterling debate the difficulty of Richard’s questions

Champion quizzers, Chris and Jane Harle

Saturday saw members trying to stretch some muscles and work off some energy before the AGM itself, with the majority either going to Kendal’s indoor climbing wall for a coaching session and the climbing competition, or a mountain bike ride.

Justin Shiels, the climbing competition organiser, at Kendal’s Lakeland Climbing Centre

The coaching was delivered by Andy Swann, Dave Barrans and Ellie Howard. Andy is, I believe, a prospective member and what a nice guy, really passionate and knows his stuff. After the coaching, people got stuck into the climbing competition organised by Justin Shiels which was good fun. A low-key not too competitive event, but it really incentivized people to climb perhaps a little more than they would have done otherwise.

The mountain bikers had a trip up the Kentmere valley led by Steve Scott and was enjoyed by all, though I do believe they managed to lose Misha Nepogodiev very early on.

The mountain biking team at the start of the off-road trails

Trevor Langhorne and Richard Wheeldon before the mountain biking; are all those last minute AGM details complete?

The CC Mountain Bikers on one of the sections of single-track above Kentmere

In the afternoon the AGM started and there was much debate. Though I detected passion I did not think it was heated, and there were some very intelligent suggestions and my overwhelming impression was that people in attendance really care about what happens to the Climbers’ Club. They showed a respect for the past and tradition, whilst appreciating that the future will present us with challenges. I’m certain we are up to those challenges.

Becky Moore, Trevor Langhorne, Richard Wheeldon, Steve Scott, and Bernard Newman presiding over the 2014 CC AGM

Ian Smith presents a historical point-of-view for keeping all our huts in good order, and reminds us that membership costs less than a Sunday newspaper

Duncan Bourne examines the CC guidebook bookstall

Steve Andrews, Chair of the PSC, explains elements of the club’s guidebook publishing programme

In the evening 142 people started to gather for the Dinner, with the £1 a pint real ale getting things lubricated. The meal presented by the Castle Green Hotel was excellent and the staff really were very nice and enthusiastic, I took a real shine to them.

The Climbers’ Club 2014 Annual General Meeting Dinner Card designed by Duncan Bourne

Then after the meal we had some formalities with toasts and a speech from Richard and a cracking talk from Paul Ross, followed by prizes galore and the band Two Stoke Diesel, with people wishing for quiet conversation amply catered for with a room set aside for them.

Richard Wheeldon after dinner laying down the rules!

Richard and our after dinner speaker, Paul Ross

BMC and CC Presidents, Scott Titt and Richard Wheeldon, hard at work

Steve Crossley and Alison Athroll, AGM and Party Weekend organisers, after the dinner

Misha Nepogodiev (aka 007) and climbing coach Andy Swann

On the Sunday morning a party was led on a walk by local member Roger Wilkinson, over Whitbarrow and Yewbarrow Scars just dodging the torrential rain that came later in the day.

Cathy Woodhead and Roger Wilkinson sharing pearls of wisdom at the Hervey Memorial on Whitbarrow Scar, with Mike Pinney, Alison Athroll, and Steve Crossley in the background – photo David Medcalf

Article: Steve Crossley.
Photos: Sterling collection except where credited.