16th April 1950
Present: Grainger, Roberts (visitor), Howes, Carr, Hide, Wood, Haythornthwaite, Jewell, Hastings, Chatburn, Colley, Chantry (leader).
The Leader and a select few having reached the hole an hour before the appointed time, a good start was made in getting the Club tackle installed. When the remainder of the borrowed ladder was seen on the horizon in Howes charge, the Leader also descended the hole and Hastings, Carr, Roberts and Wood were put down to the Flats very quickly, the only contretemps being that the Leader’s passage was lubricated by the aromatic contents of Hastings’ thermos flask.
However, as the next man Haythornthwaite, was just below Colley at the Bar, bringing with him the tackle required on the Flats, a sickening rending sound struck fear to all who heard, and our respected President was barely saved from a scarifying precipitation to the Narrows by superhuman effort on his own part. It appeared that the borrowed ladder was not in prime condition.
Forthwith, this ladder was hauled to the surface, and Colley’s distant flute like voice announced from far above the nature of the catastrophe, and that there being a lack of spare rope, Grainger had gone to Bradwell for another. (The amnesial solecism in the matter of spare rope, the Leader hereby lays at the account of the Hon. Sec.). This news being passed down to the Flats was greeted with groans, for it presaged indefinite maroonment. Whilst one would have liked to imagine Monty speeding hither and thither as one on passage from Ghent to Aix, while one would prefer to picture the hut above as the scene of feverish activity on the part of one’s comrades working their fingers to the bone in their efforts to restore communion with those below, it is only too true to admit that this picture did not fill our minds. Rather, knowing our fellow members, did we imagine a leisurely lunch followed by argument as to whether to take a walk in the sunny fresh air or whether to take a refreshing nap in the same environment.
Be that as it may, communication was at last restored and it was time to withdraw. This was done, in good order and in good time. A short walk was taken towards Conies Dale to fill an odd hour and passage taken to Castleton for tea where we were joined by Chatburn, in critical vein.
After tea another short walk was followed by slight tippling.
NB. The Leader is not the only one who has put on weight since the last descent through the Narrows.
Derbyshire Pennine Club 