Year of publication 1990 - Fell and Rock Climbing Club

18 WATERS COTTAGE: THE FIRST YEARsubstantially completed by early September. About this time, on a visitto Scotland, Stan Roberts inspected and tested the electrical system andprepared a report with recommendations for electrical works. Aquotation was obtained from a local electrician who subsequently carriedout the works to upgrade and extend the system.The next major step forward followed later in September when AlanRowland and Gill Lewis carried out the daunting task of power sandingand sealing all the floors in the bungalow. This work had a dramaticeffect in improving the appearance and would make cleaning easy in thefuture.The time was then right to call on the members who had volunteeredto help to prepare the bungalow for use and a large working partyassembled on the weekend of 20-21 October. The Civil Defence buildingprovided sleeping space and served as a workshop, whilst frantic activitytook place in every room in the bungalow. The kitchen was fitted outwith shelving, shower cubicles were installed and most of the rooms weredecorated. The Warden helped to keep up the workers spirits withhaggis and neeps for lunch, washed down with a tot of whisky. Bv theend of the weekend curtains had been made up and fitted, bunks andfurniture installed, and it was very satisfying to leave for home with theknowledge that the cottage was ready for use.The Annual General Meeting followed two weeks later and memberspresent were consulted on the Committee's suggested name for thecottage. At about the time that consideration was being given to thepurchase of the Old Police Station it was learnt that Chris Waters hadleft his entire estate to the Club, amounting to over £40,000. There wasno stipulation as to how the legacy was to be spent, but this mostgenerous gesture both influenced the Committee's attitude to theamount of the bid and associated our benefactor with the eventualacquisition. It was thought that Chris Waters would have approved theuse of the legacy for the acquisition of a Scottish Hut and the A.G.M.was unanimous in supporting the Committee's proposal to name it"Waters Cottage".By the end of the year all the initial building works had beencompleted on the cottage and a large party of members celebratedHogmanay in the comfort of the cottage. There were still plenty of jobsto do and improvements to plan when the pattern and extent of usebecame established, but in less than one year after we heard of the saleof the Old Police Station the Club had another 'home', for the first timeoutside the Lake District.The Club owes a great debt to the small but enthusiastic group ofmembers whose efforts have led to the acquisition and development of