Onward ‘Yorkshire Ramblers’

Dennis Armstrong

Dennis entertained those at the Centenary Dinner with this musical homage to members past and present. He preceded it with an apology for the offence he was about to cause to any diners with notions of political correctness.

To the tune of ‘St Gertrude’, (Arthur Sullivan) and with apologies to the Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924), Vicar of Horbury, near Wakefield who wrote the original words to Onward Christian Soldiers.

Onward Yorkshire Ramblers,
All good men and true,
Second Hundred calling Onward ever new
Supermen behind us, Good men never fail
We pray those coming after Always will be male…

Chorus:

Onward Yorkshire Ramblers, Strengthen every nerve,
Down with Political Correctness, We’re a male preserve!

Supermen behind us, Men who showed the way,
William Cecil Slingsby, He of cold Norway;
Ernest Roberts led us, Asking: “Have you BEEN?”
Stembridge, Chadwick, Marsden, Better men ne’er seen…

(Chorus)

Now the young Turks flourish, Alpine peaks galore,
Or down famous potholes, Camp they on the floor
Ski-ing in far places, In whiteout, drear and chill,
All keep to our culture Its MEN who fill the bill…

(Chorus)

Steeped in our tradition Proudly go we on,
Seeking distant mountains, To plant our crampons on
Youth now climb much higher, The old now them sustain
The Good old Yorkshire Ramblers A male Club will remain…

(Chorus, repeated in unison)