See last month's newsletter.
They don't get much more traditional than this except perhaps the Bullstones. But, of course, the cabin is no more whereas Black Rocks still stands in all its enticing glory. Hoary favourites around this time of year seem to be around the Queen's Parlour area - not the slab but both the Gully and the interstices of the Chimney are always popular. If dry, expect to see a party on Birch Tree Wall. And later at The Rising Sun in Middleton where we will be joined by many who have walked or cycled or otherwise enjoyed themselves without going near Black Rocks. I have asked the pub to expect 20 - 30 requests for something along the lines of pie peas and chips. Don't let me down guys!
Over New Year I will be staying at TYW with the Hobdays, Pikes and others. Those wishing to join us, should contact myself or Colin (to book your bed in the usual way). Rock
The Walk will again be to our traditional destination, and will this year start from the Alsop Car Park on Tissington Trail at map ref. SK 156 549 approximately 7 miles North of Ashbourne on the A515 on the right hand side. (As with most Peak Park car Parks, it is Pay and Display).
Since this is a semi-social event suitable for ageing country-folk, with only a hint of mild exertion as previous participants will know, the starting time will be a decadent 11 am. This should enable those who have celebrated extravagantly the previous evening to be present. The route will be basically down Iron Torrs to cross the Dove at Coldeaton Bridge and ascend Gypsy Bank to Alstonefield where we shall see many old friends. Those who are extremely unsteady on their legs without bicycles can go directly along the trail to the top of Gypsy Bank. Others who are less remote form the classification of ex-athletes will be afforded the opportunity to cover a little more distance with an introductory circuit to the East and so all will arrive in a comfortable condition with plenty of drinking time to spare. There will therefore be no excuse for non-attendance.
James and I will be surgically removed from the dank, mouldy North side of Black Rocks and transplanted to the Cairngorms for the first winter meet of the New Year. The location seems ideal for the first winter foray into the relatively friendly and accessible corries of Coire An-T-Sneachda and Coire An Lochain. The short routes and walk in mean that with an early start it is possible to do several routes in a day.
The plan is to stay at the Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel at Glenmore, Aviemore, PH22 1QY
The grid reference is O.S.36 GR 976099 and the YH can be found 7 miles East of Aviemore on the road to the ski area (which is just 2 miles away). The website for the YH is http://www.syha.org.uk/pages/hostel-pages/cairngorm-lodge.htm. The charges for 2003 have not been finalised. Currently, it is £11 per night and it won't be more than £12 per night, including bed linen. The YH has self catering facilities. For Saturday evening entertainment, Glenmore Lodge is 10mins walk away, with a no smoking bar (featuring a carpet that every climber will want) where evening meals, beer and a range of whiskeys can be obtained. It should be a great weekend in which to polish rusty skills, hone technique and regain confidence in the snow and ice.
I've booked 12 beds to start with (this can be increased if need be) and a £3 deposit will secure a place with balance to be paid on or just before the trip. We shall be there from around 10:30pm on the Friday night, please note that the YH is locked at 11:45pm. If you're late the campsite over the road provides toilets and a space to park your car while you sleep in it. Also let me know if you require a lift or have a spare place in your car.
Thirty two Oreads and friends attended the Parkend venue arriving at various hours during Friday. Those being more organised managed an exploratory forest bike ride in the afternoon before frantic activity in the kitchen followed by an evening's adjournment to the Fountain Inn. [The mind boggles Mick - did you manage to do any cooking, with all the frantic activity going on in the kitchen? Ed].
Saturday dawned fine and bright, and two climbing teams, including the plucky Jackie ventured out to Shorn Cliff and Wintours Leap whilst others did a variety of forest walks and around 16 members of the cycling group, mainly navigated by Colin covered 28 miles of forest tracks and paths with some fine views of the Severn estuary. In the evening 30 sat down to a welcome meal at the Fountain Inn.
On Sunday whilst some planned to go canoeing George steered 17 on a walk from Tintern Abbey above the Wye gorge to the Bridge Inn at Chepstow incorporating a section of the Offa's Dyke path, a splendid view of Tintern and the abbey from Devils Pulpit and vistas across the Wye valley. We returned on the opposite bank through contouring woodland with glimpses of the crags climbed the previous day. The route was rumoured to be as short as 12 miles but some disputed that!
In all an enjoyable weekend in which 'senior moments' were evident with Burge locking keys in his car boot and Nodge and Pam saving petrol by being towed home to Lancaster. Thank you all for coming and making it a successful weekend.
Present: Colin and Ushi Hobday, Gordon and Margeret Gadsby, Edith Colley, Stuart Warson, Mike and Sue Wren, Peter and Georgina Amour, Nick Evans and Pam Storer, Daryl Kirk and Jackie, Rusty, Dennis and Thelma Francis, George Fowler, Stuart and Andrea Haywood, John and Sylvia Green and family, Nodge and Pam Norris, Tony and Barbara Smedley, Derrick Burgess, Mike Hayes, Neville and Pearle Greensmith, Mike & Gill Keeling.
Mike Keeling.
Dull weather on Saturday made rock climbing seem unattractive, so Radders took the initiative and invoked the prospect of a walk round Snowdon. 'The Five Cols Walk' was a new one on me, but apparently an Oread tradition that has stood the test of time. A large party completed this at a steady pace in steady mist, while others sloped off for lesser things in shops etc.
Saturday night saw much conviviality, if not the frantic & unspeakable goings-on of the Forest of Dean meet. Many cooks were making light work of not spoiling the broth and a range of chicken, beef, veggie & seafood curries, a chilli, plus nasi gorang, naans, cheese & biscuits were provided by Simon, Gill, Joan, Nick, Tracey and Reu, et al. Essential supplies of wine were consumed and all had a very good night.
Sunday saw better weather and many routes were climbed at Tremaddog: mainly the classics. A good time appeared to have been had by all, and a repeat-eat pressed for ASAP.
Tony HowardWell, I was very pleased to see that every one seemed to have such a good time. Dennis' talk encompassed lots of Oread historical anecdotes. and Nikki did well with a little talk about her work.
The Raffle was fantastic, thank you every one for your support. We actually raised £290.00 Which has been passed on to both the Llanberis Mountain Rescue and Search and Rescue Dogs Association. The disco was brill., I thought !! as it was the first time I have been able to do a little turn for a number of years.
Thanks for your support, ,and so sorry that Shirley couldn't make it at the last minute as she has given me lots of help. It was so good to see many people I have not seen for many a year, and will you believe it none of us look any older!!!!!
Next years Dinner will be back to usual. I hope that will suit you all. A provisional booking has been made at The Green Man, Ashbourne, on 20th November 2004. I believe that a promise has been made to have a Ceilidh- is that how you spell it ? No promises yet - as to if I shall lead it. The Meet, I mean !
Merle Gartside.In spite of pessimistic prognostications the weather improved during the race and was once again atmospherically dry - though, happily not underfoot. This year we had one of those characteristically fleeting and fleet of foot appearances by John O'Reilly who was first Oread. Tantalisingly Rusty was squeezed down into second place in the over 60s by a mere fourteen seconds. The excuses were, as I predicted, as varied as ever. The usual (Marsden to Edale before breakfast, Edale Skyline), were joined by one broken rib, a week training with Minnie Mouse at Disneyland Paris and Toby's barking complaints about his master's lack of fitness. And of course Brian's inimitable "it's the taking part that counts, not the uphill finish".
93 John O'Reilly; 122 James Tubby
138 Rusty (2nd over 60);
155 Richard Hopkinson
[250 Gwen Tresidder]; 251 Robin Sedgwick
276 Gill Heys; 308 Roger Larkam
343 Chris Radcliffe; 360 Rob Tresidder
520 John Salmon; [701 Shelley Swindells]
Brian West; 719 Claire O'Reilly
801 Toby;
Rob Tresidder.
Following the last curry meet at TYW, I was cruelly pressed into organising another eating meet - this time in Coniston. The cuisine theme was 'oriental'. For his sins Simon was required to cook a veggie meal for 10. Graham Bowers did a Thai red curry (at least he said it was red), and Reu a curry. A jolly spiffing night was had by all in the Church Hall! Oh, the climbing? The weather was submarine! We walked round Coppermines & Tilberthwaite on Saturday morning, admired bits of hardware in Ambleside in the afternoon and abandoned ship for home on Sunday morning. Oh well there's next year. I'll see Rob about adding another meet in Coniston at the back end.
This list is only correct at time of going to press. Members are advised to check availability with the hut booking secretary Colin Hobday before going to either hut. Note that hut booking dates refer to nights (e.g. Fri/Sat for a weekend), whereas meet dates refer to the days e.g. Sat/Sun).
Jim Winfield died peacefully at home on the 14th October 2003, aged 75. He had been a member of the Oread for 50 years and I well remember meeting him during those expansive days of membership when he almost stood alone in not only being married but having a young son, and already a house owner. Audrey and himself were rather archetypical of things to come for many of us.
Always Nottingham based, he kept up steady mountain activity both in the British Isles and the Alps, particularly in Switzerland where he impetuously bought a residential caravan at Les Hauderes in the 1970's, which he visited with his family regularly summer and winter to enjoy the high mountain environment.
It was climbing in the early years of his club membership which developed into long distance walking. In he particular was one of a team of four who walked the Pennine Way homeward bound, Cheviot to the Peak in record time during a spring bank holiday in the seventies; also a variation on Wainwright's Coast to Coast, Ravens Glass to Ravens Carr with all peaks between including the Scarfells, Howgills Great Shunner Fell and "the tops" of the Lyke Wake walk in a five day effort - another spring bank holiday. As inevitably seems to happen the Scottish Munros came on the agenda in the 1970/80's with many long days in the company of Roy Darnell, Dave Penlington and myself.
Mountains were not Jim's only recreational interest. The local cricket club and his allotment often came into the conversation. His career as an accountant slowed up considerably in the 1970's. He did not like the long absences from local hills working with an international company!
Our condolences go to Audrey and their three children, Mark, Geoff and Jane who intend keeping the holiday base at Les Hauderes.
Jack Ashcroft.Pam Storer is running a trip to Lundy & would like to open it to Oreads who are interested. She says: "The barn on Lundy has been booked for the week beginning 13th August 2005. If anyone is interested, please contact me. More info. next year. Thanks, Pam Storer"
As you may have read in the newsletter, I have taken over from Stephen Bashforth as Oread treasurer until the AGM in March. As such it falls to me to collect the 2004 membership subscriptions, which are now due.
Please note that rate for Senior Family Membership was quoted incorrectly in the last newsletter
Fifteen Oreads and friends have just completed a fortnight's cycle tour of the Scottish Highlands. The weather was mainly good and almost 400 hilly miles were covered. With six of the party > over 70 years old and most of the rest over 60 this was no mean feat. We stayed in hostels, bunkhouses and two hotels and had many adventures. We crossed the Coulin Pass by different routes on a perfect day. On rest days one of us reached the summit of Liathach and another the summit of Dun Caan on Rassay. We made many new friends and partied with Ken and Polly Bryan on Skye. Several cycle repairs were carried out on various bikes. On our last day all ferries were cancelled due to gale force winds - hopefully full story at Christmas.
Gordon GadsbyI've just spoken to Dawn. She is now half way through her chemo-therapy and the treatment is working very well. The tumour has reduced by half and progress is good. Because the treatment reduces the efficacy of her immune system, she still can't mix with large groups of the cold & flu infected population and therefore can't do pubs and slide shows etc. However, this will be relatively short-term and we hope to see her round and about soon.
Very best wishes from us all Dawn. Continue your progress and join us on the sports and social activities again soon.
Ed.4-Up for Scotland: Rob Tresidder The Christmas Story Book - if there is enough stuff.
Please ensure that material for the next newsletter reaches me before Monday 23rd December. I would like to hear from Nick Evans (TYW), Derek Pike (Little Langdale) and Daryl Kirk (Cairngorms).
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