Meet the Climbers’ Club Committee

With the aim of making it easier for members and guests to recognise our committee when hanging out in huts, belaying at the crag, or any other venue where it might be useful to pass on a few hints or comments about how the club is being run here are some snap-shots and background details of each of the members of the current CC Committee:

Role	Name	Bio
President	Paul Drew	Paul has been climbing for 32 years and a member of the Climbers Club since 2008. He is based near Chester and is now somewhat of an expert in finding dry rock along the North Wales coast in all sorts of weather. Alternatively he will be found in Spain/France/Greece/Italy/Switzerland (delete as appropriate) and now he is retired is on a bit of mission to see how many climbing/skiing trips you can fit into a single year.
Honorary Secretary	Alison Lancashire	I started roped rock climbing at age 14 on a family holiday in the Caingorms after a long apprenticeship of climbing trees. I have been a member of The Climbers Club since 1983. I am a huge fan of multipitch trad rock climbing in the mountains, particularly in the UK. I enjoy clipping bolts but mainly in the winter in warmer places.
Treasurer	Simon Donowho
Vice-Presidents	Neil Foster
	Alison Athroll	My first ever experience of climbing was Little Chamonix on an unusually warm November day with 2 friends. That was in 1989 and the day I got hooked on climbing. I’ve climbed regularly ever since and more frequently since moving from Suffolk to Lancashire in 2003. Trad sea cliffs & UK multi-pitch are my favourite ways to climb, although crags, bouldering, sports climbing all feature in my climbing year, each bringing me something different. Outside of the UK, the Dolomites are my favourite place for longer mountain days, although I have only managed 3 or 4 trips there (so far). Ever since moving up to Lancs, I’ve been very involved with my local club (Lancs Climbing & Caving Club), serving on their committee since 2004 in various capacities (Secretary, Treasurer, President & Newsletter Editor).
	Steve Jenkins	I started climbing with a school friend in the early 1970’s, equipped with Alan Blackshaw’s “Mountaineering” and a borrowed rope. We taught ourselves the basics mostly locally at Scugdale and the Wainstones. We then progressed to Scotland, Wales and the Alps where I developed a passion for long medium grade trad routes. More recently (2008) the CC introduced me to Norwegian ice. Since then, I have also been making an annual winter pilgrimage to various parts of Norway including the far North. If I’m not climbing, I can usually be found at one of my apiaries with my bees.
Membership Secretary	Chris Allan
Meets Secretary	AJ Guardiola	Agustín Guardiola's (AJ) childhood in sunny Valencia introduced them to sport climbing on the beautiful Costa Blanca limestone. After moving to Manchester for university, outdoor climbing took a back seat; AJ was under the impression that British weather was too wet and cold for a pleasant climbing experience, and the quality of the sport climbing in the Peak District didn't compare to Spanish limestone. Traditional climbing didn't even cross their mind, as it had a bad rep in Spanish climbing circles: seen as something best left to thrill-seekers. As a result of the COVID travel restrictions, AJ (somewhat reluctantly) decided to try trad climbing, and they were instantly captivated by the feeling of self reliance and adventure it offered. Today, AJ finds particular joy in multi-pitch mountain and sea-cliff routes, along with big alpine routes when holidays permit. AJ serves as Chair of the BMC North West area and they are one of the founders and organisers of ClimbOut, the UK's first queer climbing festival that aims to introduce LGBTQ+ people to outdoor climbing.
Hut Booking Secretary	Helen Allan	Helen started climbing in 1999 when she met her partner Chris. Since then she has climbed in France, Spain and Sardinia as well as the UK, learning to lead climb and eventually joined the CC in 2018. She also loves hillwalking, particularly in winter where she can play about in the snow. She enjoys new challenges and pushing her limits, particularly on Via Ferratas and big mountains in the French Alps.
Committee Members	Clare Bond
	Trevor Langhorne	I began climbing at the end of the 60s so enjoyed a couple of years with no harness and hawser laid ropes. I still recall my first route, Brown Slabs on Shepherds, what a struggle, and I have struggled ever since, albeit at a higher grade. Living in Carlisle it was an easy train/bus or hitch out to Keswick where I mis-spent many weekends climbing in Borrowdale, my spiritual home. Over the years I have moved around the UK for work, but I only moved to places with easy access to good rock. Mountain crags are my preferred location, although I can be partial to a bit of easy sun-rock bolt clipping if the bars and restaurants are good enough. I joined the CC in the mid 90s and have served in number of roles since 2006.
	Andrew Kitchen	I've been in the CC for 11 years and been climbing for over 40 years. I like trad climbing in the the mountains and sea cliff, but also enjoy sports climbing and the grit. I have briefly dabbled in winter climbing as a student, but prefer hill walking in the winter or sports climbing abroad.
	Jesse Dufton	Jesse was introduced to climbing at the age of 2. Ordinary Route on Idwal Slabs was sent in fine style with his dad. Climbing was always apart of Jesse's upbringing and it became an even bigger part when he went to uni. Trad climbing is his preferred discipline choosing strong lines that follow imposing features.
	Molly Dufton	Molly started climbing in her mid-teens initially at Avon and Helsby, it's a miracle she wasn't dissuaded! Her favourite discipline is trad, but she's often clipping foreign bolts or sanding down her fingertips in Font. She has to be in the right mood to enjoy winter climbing, else it's all a bit type 2 fun, but she did organise a winter expedition to Greenland, so she can't hate it that much. She loves trips away especially to Joshua Tree (apart from the tarantulas), Waterfall Boven (with the Baboons), Hong Kong (apart from the snakes) and Scotland (apart from the midges). She often acts as a sight-guide for blind climbers, both in paraclimbing competitions supporting the GB team or out at the crag, probably the only person in the world that thinks guiding a blind climber on lead, on-sight, on a route she's never climbed is no big deal. Her favourite phrase is "left, no, I mean right"....
	Bob Allen
	Alison Cairns
	Marti Hallett
	Hilary Lawrenson (Co-opted)	As Whillans harnesses and EBs seem to be a benchmark, Hilary admits to owning both when she started climbing, but they were at the end of their era. She did the classic of going to university in Sheffield and staying, hence a certain affinity for jamming and the rounded rock found in great quantities 10-30 minutes from her home; but living in a landlocked city she does yearn for the sea cliffs.
Publications Sub-Committee Chair	Val Hennelly	Climbing for 35 years, member of the CC for over 15 years, ex-President of Pinnacle Club, and have run joint meets at the Count House for CC and PC for around 10 years. Middling trad climber, rubbish on indoor walls, still working and now in Committee role and recently taken on directorship of CC Digital along with Ron Kenyon as we review its future. Also coordinating Pinnacle Club centenary celebrations. I am renowned for my really good scones . . . .
Huts Management Sub-Committee Chair	Rob Seymour	'Friends' first appeared in the late 1970s and had a huge impact on climbing. Rob first appeared at Anglezarke around the same time and had absolutely no impact on climbing at all. He joined the CC in 2001 and has been meaning to get fit, lose weight and actually do a bit of climbing ever since. Rob is usually found at the Count House, muttering darkly about hut users who arrange mugs the wrong way on the mug rack.
Communications Officer	Ken Daykin	Ken first tried climbing in 1976 on Middlefell Buttress in Langdale, but then got heavily involved in caving for the next 8 years. Returned to climbing in 1984 and it has been his main outdoor activity ever since. Ken prefers multi-pitch trad climbing, preferably in a mountain setting. As well as climbing in The Lake District, North Wales and Scotland he climbs frequently in the French Alps and is halfway through a ticklist of the 100 best moderate grade multi-pitch routes in the alps. Other favourite climbing destinations are the Picos de Europa, Corsica and Norway.
Finance Secretary	Lorne Brown