Members: Bob Anderson, Christine Beeston, Ken Beetham, Sue & Heather Brooke, Midge & John Castick, Trish Cranston, Andrew Croughton, Dave Dillon, John Dobson, Roger Dyke, Joe Flynn, Mark Garrod, Kate Harvey, Michelle Harvie, Pat Holt, Pete Hughes, Bob Kelly, Sean Kelly, Peter Johnson, Alan H Jones, Alan L Jones, Pete Leeson, Neville McMillan, Iain McCallum, Al Metelko, Derek Seddon, Dave Shotton, Brian Street, Jim Symon, Chris Thickett, Pete Walker, Margaret & Frank Williams (35)

Guests: Ang Ball, Max Driscoll, Simon Garrod, Richard Holt, Christine Jones, Pam McCallum, Will Sim, Sean’s friend (8).

An excellent turn-out for this year’s annual dinner, with us managing to overfill the hotel on the night. It was especially pleasing to see Pat and Richard, Derek and Ken on good form. Chris Thickett, as club speaker, gave us a couple of odes, along with an extremely amusing comparison of well-known phrases in Chinese characters and pictorial English, rolling pins included. Our guest speaker, Will Sim, who was the youngest person in the room, gave an unassuming and entertaining insight into his world of extremely serious mountaineering, and of one of his plans for next year (Changabang by a new route). Thanks to everyone who donated prizes and also gave generously for their tickets; we raised £147.50 for Wasdale MRT, who asked us to “Please pass on our thanks and best wishes to all your members. We really do appreciate their support.”

Daytime activities were a bit limited by gale force winds and rain on Saturday, and just the winds on Sunday, but Dave D and Jim somehow “sailed” up Sharp Edge on Saturday, while Andrew, Brian, Sue, Pete and Peter looked at Haystacks (or where it should have been), and then walked round Buttermere. A number of parties ventured out onto Grisedale Pike or Crag Hill on Sunday, to meet both half-way down and then back in the hotel for afternoon tea.

Please Note the Date Change from the Handbook - Saturday meal is on the 26th.

We are holding this year's Annual dinner on Saturday November 26th at the Middle Ruddings Hotel, Braithwaite, near Keswick in Cumbria, after our successful and enjoyable first visit there two years ago. The hotel is superbly situated and has a reputation for good food, traditional Ale and has hosted dinners for CAMRA. Check out http://www.middle-ruddings.co.uk.

Dinner only is £23 per head – menu choices will be selected shortly and posted on the website. We have yet to confirm our guest speaker, but the club speaker is Chris Thickett, and for those of you who enjoyed Chris’ last dinner speech, you will know he is not to be missed!

The dinner and one night Bed and Breakfast will be £67 per person, or for 2 night's B&B accommodation and for the dinner on the Saturday it will be £110 per person. The hotel can accommodate between 26 and 28 people, and we can manage around 45 for the dinner, so get your bookings into Heather Brooke a.s.a.p. (not via the hotel please) to ensure your bed and dinner space.

Please note if looking to stay in the hotel itself you should book by 15th October as after that date they will open rooms up to the public again if not all booked.

For those not wishing to stay in the Hotel:

Local B+B's available:

• Maple Bank (http://www.maplebank.co.uk), Speak to Tommy or Rhona on 017687 78229. One night £40pp &Two Nights £35pp/pn - may do a special winter rate - ask them.

• The Sidings 017687 78042 B+B £30pp approx. Ask for Silvia Clarke.

• Braithwaite Farm 017687 78411 B+B £30 pp approx. Ask for Jenny Clarke.

These are all within Five minutes walk of the hotel and were recommended by the hotel themselves in 2009. Other local B&B is available.

Menu:

Starters:

• Poached pear, with blue whinnow dressing.
• Pheasant terrine with a Cumberland sauce.
• Cream of celeriac and cumin soup.

Mains:

• Roast breast of chicken filled with a chicken mousse and wrapped in pancetta and drizzled with a pan gravy.
• Casseroled venison cooked with wild mushrooms in red wine served with a caraway mash.
• Baked cod fillet with parsley sauce.
• Winter cous cous scented with saffron with roasted parsnip, onion, pumpkin, dried apricots, chickpeas and carrots.

Desserts:

• Bramley apple crumble with custard.
• Orange cheesecake with an orange liquor sauce
• Dark chocolate tart with a white chocolate sauce.
• Cheese and Biscuits
• Followed by Tea and Coffee.
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Please book and pay early to secure your places.