Founders Times
Now that we no longer have any Founding Members with us in the Club and just a few who remember their days, it seems a good time to assemble a few memories of those days - of Len Stubbs in particular. The hills and crags have only changed a little, a lot more polish here and there, a few big chunks of rock more on the ground, but the activities themselves haven't changed that much.
So going backwards, we start with the first photo of the first Dinner in 1945 at the Oddfellows Arms in Chinley [D. Seddon], featuring young Geoff Cockcroft, Robbie Worral and Eric Flitcroft.
Some Founders with the President in 1965. L to R, Bob Elliott, Dennis Davis (President), Len Stubbs, Alan Simpson, Don Hoyle and Cliff Wood. [D. Seddon/Jim Gregson]
And now forwards in time?
Len wasn't Called Up in 1939 as he had a weak heart. In 1949, the Club organised a coach to take us to Mar Lodge for 4 days at Easter (the fare was £3 10s return). We were to camp at Lochain Uaine under Braeriach. We wore cut down raincoats and socks with the feet cut out as gaiters. Our loads were heavy with supplies of paraffin and primus stoves - our diet mainly Pom & Pemican. Sleeping mats hadn't been invented and we slept on thick sheets of brown paper with tar in the middle.
We set off at a brisk pace but after a few miles Len was lagging behind - we waited for him and noticed he had gone a peculiar colour - no doubt today a helicopter would be summoned by mobile phone. The best we could do for him was to share out his load between us and give him a short while to recover. Len insisted on continuing to the campsite despite what was obviously a mild heart attack - I wish I had know then that he was to see 85 [Pat Holt].
One might well have counted Len's 3 ton Lorry as a member of the Club as it featured in many trips, and helped out members. Here seen on the track to the Coniston hut. [D. Seddon].
Helping to Remove the Woods (Cliff and Teddy). [D. Seddon].
Wild camping was probably done more often then. With modern gear there is little excuse, let's have another Esk Buttress meet. This is Robbie and Plum Worral [D. Seddon].
Outdoor meets of the time (above) and the transport used to get to them. Cliff wood with wife 'Teddy' on bike. But what is the hill in the background? [D. Seddon].
Len Stubbs with Robbie Worral. What's in the bottle? [D. Seddon].
Len in the 1950's [via Jim Gregson]
