to download a PDF of Footsteps - The Wainwright Society

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The Wainwright Society
and YHA link up
For some years, we in the Society have
tried to see what we could do to promote
our aims to a younger audience. Only in
this way would we be confident that future
generations would be able to sustain a
successful Society and continue to fulfil
our objectives. This year, we hope we are
taking a step in this direction by forming a
liaison with the Youth Hostels Association.
I had an initial meeting in May 2012 with Donna
Waring, Project Manager at YHA headquarters in
Matlock, Derbyshire, and it did not take long to
see that we shared many objectives and beliefs.
Registered as a charity and with over 200,000
members, the YHA celebrated its 80th year in
2011 during which its Vice-President, Sir Chris
Bonington (who is also an Honorary Member of
the Society), led a celebratory walk from YHA
Ennerdale to YHA Black Sail. They have over 200
properties in England and Wales and there over
4,000 Youth Hostels worldwide.
Black Sail Youth Hostel
The YHA is no longer just about having
accommodation facilities in lovely locations. It
actively encourages a spirit of adventure through
its numerous outdoor activity courses, its work
with disadvantaged young people and links with
schools and youth groups. Like us, the YHA
realises that it must encourage younger generations
to use the facilities it offers. This seemed like an
ideal opportunity to forge a link and we discussed
many ways in which we could support each other.
Understandably, we are focussing initially on the
Lake District section of the YHA where there are
twenty hostels, all in fantastic locations.
In the last few months, we have worked together to
get things moving. We now have our new Society
brochure and application forms displayed in many of
the hostels and are sending copies of Footsteps to all
Lakeland properties for visitors to read in the hostel
lounges. We hope to include interesting articles
about the YHA’s history and properties in future
issues. We will help promote each other’s events
and activities; we have set up a separate section on
our Forum and website giving details of YHA events
that we think would be of interest to our members,
and we will be distributing each other’s literature at
shows we attend.
The YHA has offered Society members a tremendous
discount for stays in the Lake District (£12.50 per
night B&B for dormitory accommodation). Details
of this are on the Society website and interest has
already been shown from members. Details of a
scheme the YHA is running in the Lake District,
offering free use of its meeting room facilities to local
organisations, are on the Forum and website. Over
the coming months, we will discuss other ways in
which we can help each other.
We hope that members will take an interest in
this initiative and contribute in any way they feel is
helpful, as well as looking at the YHA’s volunteer
scheme if they wish to participate further.
John Bewick
Society Development
Society News
Footsteps was a wedding guest! Society members
Esther and Paul Gigli, who were featured in
the Spring issue of Footsteps after they became
engaged on the summit of Sail, were married on
Sunday 3 July at St Begh’s Priory at Whitehaven. At
their request, we sent copies of Footsteps for their
guests. The photograph (courtesy of Chris Freer,
Freerimages, Cockermouth) shows them holding
a copy before cutting the cake. Our best wishes go
to Esther and Paul.
Member Discount at Rohan shops. Rohan, at
Ambleside and Keswick, has offered a discount
to Society members on presentation of their
membership card. For full details see the Society
website under Member Benefits.
2012 Challenge Book. This year’s book, once
again in a limited edition of 200 copies, will go
on sale in October. Full details and how to order
will be on the website at that time.
10th Anniversary Celebrations. This is the last
Footsteps issue before our celebration weekend
(9–11 November). Tickets for the Friday evening
Memorial Lecture at Rheged, where Alan Hinkes
will be the speaker, are now on sale; our party at
Wilfs on the Saturday evening looks like being a
sell-out, with only a few tickets remaining, as we
go to press. We also have a Society Walk to Dove
Crag on Saturday afternoon and some members
will be attending Remembrance Day services on
Great Gable and Castle Crag on Sunday morning.
Notebook Auction. The article on pages 10–11
describes the Society’s success in winning the
auction for this unique item of memorabilia. We
are hoping to find ways of making part of the
notebook available for members in various forms,
so watch for further news of this on the website.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust Merchandise. If you
look at the website of Cumbria Wildlife Trust (the
Society’s main beneficiary in 2012) in their ‘support
us/shop’ section, you will see that they are selling
our calendars. You will also find details of their range
of wildlife Christmas cards (yes, it’s that time again
already!) as well as their non-seasonal merchandise.
You may be able to solve some of your Christmas
present problems well in advance, in one visit.
Footsteps Binders. We still have some binders
left for sale. Each binder will take twelve copies
of Footsteps, keeping them clean and readily
available for reference. Details of how to order
are on the website in the Merchandise section.
Sketchbook Project. Have you looked at the
photographs on the website yet? There are
now nearly forty locations covered so far, with
some stunning photographs taken by members.
Comparisons with AW’s sketches show very
interesting changes in topography. There are still
many locations, both high and low-level,
to be photographed, so why not
have a go next time you’re
in the Lake District?
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