A Few Memories of Roy Lee
By Jim Gregson
Once Roy had joined the KMC in 1974 he quickly became a very regular meet attender and his easy-going manner made him a great companion on the crag or during a walk. He soon built up a tally of friends with whom to share his outings on the hills.
I don't ever remember Roy bemoaning the weather, the conditions, and even the company - which in all truth was not always the case in KMC history. His enthusiasm just seemed to rub off onto others. Following Roy's lead the club also got the rest of the Lees, and fortunately they all turned out OK too.
When Duncan was still a little lad, Roy showed a degree of sensitivity when other members might have to tolerate this youngster. At a meet in Langdale Roy wanted to go off to a high crag with someone else for a day's climbing - this was before Duncan had grown to be the excellent climber he became - and asked me if it might be possible for Duncan to tag along with Sandy and myself for the day, and once we said "Yes" Roy apologised in advance in case his son proved to be yappy for hours on end. We had a long day out going from Langdale via Stake Pass over into Langstrath and returned over Greenup Edge, High White Stones, Sergeant Man and down by Stickle Gill. Duncan, then very young, managed just fine, maybe a bit tired after the distance. In the evening Roy thanked us profusely for taking him, allowing him a good day on the crag, and thanked us again for delivering Duncan back in a state that meant he went to bed early.
Roy turned into a safe and reliable rock climber and like another old pal, Gerald Carradus, he was good at persuading people to have a go at things. That was how he inveigled me into trying that one-move contortion required to get up Tody's Wall.
We also shared an interest in bird watching -- on one occasion on a Thursday night at some pub over the road from the CIS Building where we used to meet, Roy handed to me a strange package -- frozen solid. He said, "Don't open it up in here; wait till you get home". Later on I unwrapped the bacofoil and to my astonishment found a beautifully marked but very dead, male cuckoo! Roy eventually explained that this bird had killed itself by flying at full pelt into one of his Boothroyden Terrace windows.
Roy was much more of a runner than I ever was, and naturally enough he was a keen participant in KMC Fell Races. In several years I was aware of Roy dogging my steps as we bashed our way over the fells. He said that he liked to follow me as he claimed never to have seen me look at map or compass during a race but always arrive at the checkpoints in correct order. By keeping with me he said he didn't have to think about finding the way! He did though admit that he couldn't always keep up if the route led across very bouldery ground. But he did indulge in a bit of gamesmanship now and again.
We were running down from somewhere on Harter Fell into the Duddon heading next for a checkpoint by Seathwaite Tarn. Most people diverted to cross the river at Birks Bridge, but Roy saw me heading more directly to the River where I knew there was a sort of weir where you could cross. Recent rain though had left the water level very high and we paused to weigh up the wisdom of jumping in. We decide to link arms and lean on each other for more safety, and so we crossed in thigh-deep water. As we scrambled up the far bank, my legs suddenly cramped and I had to just walk for a while to re-warm. After just a few paces, Roy suddenly said "You don't mind, Jim, do you? But this could be my best chance of winning this year" and off he shot at speed and was soon lost to my view, and when I next saw him at High Moss hut he was supping a big pot of tea and sporting a grin like a Cheshire cat. He did thank me for being the human satnav for most of the race.
So, thanks Roy for many good memories and good company on so many KMC days out. You were a really nice man and there will be many other KMC members who remember you with fondness.
Jim Gregson, June 2014
