BM&SC AGM

26^th October 2007, Dalton Castle.

 

Seventeen members attended the AGM held in Dalton Castle, a historic venue, but lacking a bar. The President, Peter Fleming prefaced his report with the remark that the choice of venue had nothing to do with the decision last year to provide free beer vouchers to attendees.

 

Presidents Report

Another year has gone by.  Much has been done, especially at the cottage with the upgrading of the guests kitchen facilities.  This will no doubt ensure many repeat bookings and further income for the Club in future years.  We are grateful to our Cottage Warden and Booking Secretary for the planning and execution of this work, plus the various members who assisted the professionals who were engaged to do the bulk of the work.

 

Whilst not wishing to duplicate or pre-empt the reports of other club officers, I must say that despite the expenses incurred at the cottage our balance sheet will show that we still have a very healthy bank balance.  All our officers, Committee and Editorial Staff have worked unstintingly towards making 2007 another successful year and our thanks go to them.

 

This has been a milestone year in mountaineering. Both the Fell and Rock Climbing Club and the Alpine Club celebrated a centenary and a 150 years respectively this year.  Several of our members are also members of these two clubs.  Along with others I attended the FRCC celebrations at Keswick and Shap Wells Hotel.  Their exhibition of world wide mountaineering photographs, memorabilia and paintings is still on view at Rheged until the end of the year. 

 

I was also lucky enough to take part in the Alpine Club celebrations in Zermatt in June.  The Swiss did the Club proud and amongst many facilities they provided was a special train up the Gornergrat to a banquet at the Riffleberg Hotel with the Matterhorn dominating the view on a perfect evening.  Several of the world’s leading mountaineers were present, the chief guest and speaker being Walter Bonnatti.  It was a wonderful occasion.