21st August 1949
There is a belief, sedulously fostered by certain senior club members, that in the Golden age it was customary for the leader to arrange a meet and for the followers to adhere to his programme. This meet must in that case be deemed to have been in the true modern style; slipshod and degenerate. For not only did the leader allow the feeding arrangements to pass into other hands, those of the most consistent Castleton toper, but also arriving late at his meet allowed a caving meet to split up into no less than four subsidiary efforts, to wit:
- A genuine walk by J.Husband and W.White who walked at Little Hucklow as arranged and who spent their day in intellectual converse and bonhomie.
- A motoring expedition by the President, Secretary and Breakey, who taking care to refresh themselves before starting, departed to spend theirs in bawdy talk, bonhomie and Colley’s vehicle. They say that they reached Kinder Downfall, but a sweat grimed countenance and mien of general weariness in the evening is not sufficient collateral evidence.
- The Tigers – Howes, Holtom and Carr, who worked with a will down the hole in harmonious bonhomie.
- The intelligentsia – Pryor, Sissons, Sampson and the Leader, who beguiled the sunny hours with sweet music, discourse, gin and more bonhomie. At intervals these gentlemen bestirred themselves to haul on a rope till it creaked but with little obvious effect. They were assured however that the foot poundage thus supplied served a good purpose down below, although the mechanical efficiency of the set up must have been nearly zero. Much rock was reduced to shingle by Sissons who was kept happily busy.
A good time having been had by nearly all, resort was made to the Nags Head for tea, After which Sampson produced 90 odd slides of the Coolins, etc, which gave at least two of his audience seriously to think. In a very few well chosen words the President conveyed the best wishes of the Club to Sampson on the occasion of his forthcoming departure for Africa’s coral strand. It must be recorded that it is necessary not to spit in the mug because the ice goes back in the bottle, and it is with this thought in our minds that we pass on to the minority report which is mendacious, untrue, unconvincing, uneconomical and unworthy of the journal, the Club and indeed humanity in general. These sub men are…
Minority Report
Writing for the energetic, resourceful three who, preferring to leave others whom they humbly considered more competent, more capable and more confident, the skilled and technical task of deepening the hole, and yet at the same time scorning to join the indolent, indigent and idle who graced the surface, I must record that having recourse to automobile transport only to come to grips more easily with the arduous mountain terrain offered by Kinder, they duly arrived at Grindsbrook with parched lips and stinking brakes.
To proceed into the Clough without paying respects to Heardman would have been churlish so a meagre half-pint of ale was consumed at the Nag.
The three then departed, crossed the stream, passed the fields, penetrated the wood and commenced the ascent of Grindsbrook.
The conversation now turned to the subject of women and much pleasant discourse passed on the subject.
The day was hot, the Clough was long and much sweat rolled off naked shoulders before the final slopes were breasted and the three stood on the summit edge.
The conversation was now concerned with the subject of women and many wise words were spoken.
Leaving Four Jacks Cabin behind them the three crossed over to the Downfall, admired the view, ate treacle tart and consumed chocolate and commenced the return journey to Crowden and the Pagoda.
The conversation had by this time veered round to the subject of women and was adorned with wit and wisdom.
Pausing on the brink of Crowden a rest was taken before descending and continuing the path to Edale where the car was re entered and way made to the waiting repast.
During this journey the conversation concerned the subject of women and the discourse only terminated at them rejoining the party at the hostelry.
Derbyshire Pennine Club 