Meet Report: 11-13 November 2022.

This Annual Dinner marked the end of the YRC’s 130^th year. It was a blend of the traditional and the new. The AGM was back to being held before the Dinner, Kindred Clubs were again invited to send a representative and the event ended with the singing of Yorkshire, first heard in 1909. A welcome innovation was the installation of our first female President, Rebecca Humphreys. Becca is a third-generation member of the Club and was accompanied by fourth-generation, Suki.

Incidentally, there were three generations of Salmons present and the three generations of Crowthers attending were all members. Besides these familiar names, there were six of this year’s ten newly welcomed members at the AGM.  Members filled all the rooms at the Hotel, a couple of nearby houses and over half the beds at Lowstern.

On account of limited space at the Falcon Manor Hotel, the AGM and lecture returned to the Settle Social Club. Dry mild weather over the weekend made moving to and fro easier. 

After the AGM, Chief Guest Adele Pennington gave an entertaining account of her ‘Operation Scottish Classic Rock’ – cycling to climb all 26 Scottish routes in Ken Wilson’s Classic Rock book, in a single journey during summer 2021. Thanks to copious ‘bum butter’ (best not to ask), eight friends as climbing partners and campervan and portering support by Jim Hall, Adele managed it in just 45 days including seven rest days. That’s 1150km and 12,400m of ascent cycled, 4,830m pitched climbing, just one leader fall, and 336km walking including traversing the Cuillin Ridge. Thankfully, there were no injuries only two rockfall trashed ropes and three ripped jackets.

The Dinner was attended by 47 members and 16 guests including Andrew Hinde representing the Gritstone Club who is also secretary of the Council of Northern Caving Clubs.  David Large as MC kept the evening running smoothly to Michael Smith’s schedule.

Walking activities over the weekend were varied.  Short rounds were completed near Keasden, Norber from Clapham, Hornby and Wray, Ribblehead and the Ingleton waterfalls. Then twenty on Sunday started the official walk at 10am from Austwick, led by Becca. The route took in Norber, Sulber Gate, east along the scar top, a descent to Moughton Whetstone Hole, and Wharfe. From there some returned via Wood Lane, others via Feizor.

Fourteen finished off the weekend with tea and Ye Old Naked Man scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam back at Lowstern, making plans for future meets in Austria, Bolivia and Scotland. Similar discussions have probably concluded the 107 previous Dinners and have certainly littered all the Club’s 130 years.  Long may they continue to do so.

Attended by:

David Booker-Smith

Fiona Booker-Smith

Mick Borroff

John Brown

Derek Bush

Ged Campion

Peter Chadwick

Ian Crowther

Michael Crowther

Robert Crowther

Anne Dover (G, pianist)

Paul Dover

Karen Dyer (G)

Beverley Eastwood

Iain Gilmour

Sarah Gilmour (G)

Jim Hall (G)

David Handley

David Hick

Andrew Hinde (Gritstone Club)

Alan Hinkes

Jason Humphreys

Rebecca Humphreys

Suki Humphreys (JPM)

Fiona Humphreys (G)

Judy Humphreys (G)

John Jenkin

Tim Josephy

Geraldine Lally (G)

David Large

Alan Linford

Angela Linford (G)

Anne Lofthouse

Harvey Lomas

Malcolm Lynch

Christine Marriott

John Middleton

Valerie Middleton (G)

Conrad Murphy (G)

Rory Newman

Aaron Oakes

Jamie Parker

Adele Pennington (Chief Guest)

Steve Richards

Wendy Richards

Felicity Roberts

Ann Salmon

Arthur Salmon

Barbara Salmon

Trevor Salmon

Helen Smith

Michael Smith

Richard Smith

Rod Smith

Yayoi Smith

Simon Snowden (G)

Richard Taylor

Conrad Tetley

Martyn Trasler

Carol Whalley

John Whalley

Charles Wilkinson (G)

Frank Wilkinson