History 1965-1975

I was one of several BB Officers who were running a new BB Company in Cheshire in the early 1960s. We had given thought and effort to the problem. We had engaged our older members in converting an old Sunday School as our Company HQ. We had been building canoes and a sailing dinghy, and had started with DEA. So for us, the advent of the Senior Section fitted well with what we were already doing. Soon we were organising Senior camps and holidays just for our half-dozen Seniors, which featured both mountain and water sports. We looked for suitable personal adventure training, including in my case a splendid week at the Mountain Leadership Centre at Plas-y-Brenin. We found climbers who were generous with their time for the sake of our Seniors. With their help, we organised a fortnight at a Climbing Centre in Cornwall, walking the moors, canoeing in the surf, and climbing on the fantastic granite cliffs. The Seniors looked also in other directions. They undertook a major project, converting a private house into a Senior Citizens’ Centre. One role of our Senior Section was becoming that of a Service Corps for the Community. The DEA work continued, and our first candidates were approaching Gold Award. Generally, we were retaining older members, apart from those being poached from our football team!

Scout Crag in Langdale, Lake District

Looking at this picture, you may ask how climbers could think of going out without proper harness, and without a modern climbing helmet. In 1965, there were few refinements available to the climber, beyond a 120-foot nylon rope, some slings and karabiners. Helmets were introduced first on Alpine routes where stonefalls were a daily occurrence. In the UK, routes were mainly clear of debris, and to knock a stone down, or drop a karabiner, was bad climbing etiquette! BBMC members were well taught in good three-point contact, in safe belaying at the end of each pitch of a climb, and in techniques for using running belays to the best advantage.

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