2nd November 1907
The Annual General Meeting and dinner took place at the Marquis of Granby Hotel, Bamford, Derbyshire, on November 2nd. The Clubs guest at dinner were – Mr E.M.Wrench, M.V.O., F.R.G.S., of Baslow; Mr J.Rooke Corbett, M.A., Manchester, representing the Rucksack Club; Mr John Royce, of Castleton. A most pleasant evening was spent, music being contributed by Mr Henry Bishop, A.L.C.M., Mr W.Amies and Mr W.Smithard. On the following day some members walked from Bamford to Melandra Castle, Glossop, via the Roman road known as Doctors Gate, whilst another section made an excursion to Alport Castles and Bleaklow.
The Marquis of Granby Hotel, Bamford
“When invited to be a guest at your first annual dinner, I took the trouble of looking up in an encyclopaedia the real meaning of the word ‘cavesman,’ and I found he was there described as a ‘man in distress, in debt, and generally in very bad circumstances.’” So spoke Dr Wrench at the first annual dinner of the Derbyshire Pennine Club, held at the Marquis of Granby Hotel, Bamford, on Saturday evening last.
After beholding the strong, determined, ardent, and healthy looking visages of the members of the club, the doctor was satisfied that the reference was anything but correct as a description of the modern cavesman. The recently formed Derbyshire Pennine Club has for its members the most enthusiastic and daring cragsmen and cavesmen of our city and the neighbouring county of Derby. Its intention is to create a greater interest in the natural attractions of the hill country, for which Derbyshire is far famed.
From an educational point of view the club has already attained distinction in discovering traces of the Roman invasion, in the exploration of numerous caverns in the Castleton neighbourhood, and in the participation of hill country walking over the Peak district. In choosing its first president the club has been exceedingly fortunate to secure Mr J. W. Puttrell, a name well known to all who take an interest in rock and cave work. The dinner proved an excellent method of bringing the members of the club together, also of introducing several interesting visitors, as Dr Wrench, of Baslow; Mr Royce, a local authority on the Blue John Mine; Mr Corbett, a member of the Manchester Rucksack Club; and Dr Lee of Eyam. The speeches were on the humorous side, and gave a lively tonic to a most pleasant gathering. Music was contributed by Messrs. Henry Bishop, W. Smithard, and W. Amies. The menu cards were artistically decorated with appropriate designs, being the pen work of Mr Archer.
H. Bishop
Derbyshire Pennine Club 