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Great Gable Remembrance Weekend - 2009 |
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Written by Peter Burgess
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Tuesday, 03 November 2009 |
Related Links (OFC archives)
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 OFC Party Roger Hiley reported:  FRCC Memorial
A good day out with excellent company, and an opportunity to give thanks for all those that have given so much in service to our country. Members' Remembrance Photographs 2009
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I decided to visit the Great Gable Remembrance event for the first time, today. Rather than do the Honister route with the others, I preferred to park at Seatoller and ascend via Brown Base & Green Gable with a view to meeting up and walking back with them. I left home at 5:10 and was parked up by 7:10. I walked as far as Taylorgill Force and decided to take a look at the cleft which splits the South East crag of Base Brown - see Wainwright BB p3. I climbed up through the cleft and all I will say is that I do not recommend this route to anyone, up or down - don't bother.
From the summit of BB (in cloud) I compassed my way to meet the Green Gable path and joined the procession towards the Gable summits. I reached Great Gable summit in good time and had a good walk round to keep warm, lots of folk were in porta-bivvies. If I couldn't find the others, I was going to poke a few bivvies. But soon enough I found the main OFC contingent. After the two minutes silence, we took a look at the Memorial and then had lunch over by the Westmorland Cairn. Richard Ratcliffe
Not always ideal conditions but a very worthwhile expedition. The misty conditions on the summit added to the emotion for me. Those who have given such service to our country will never be forgotten. Dave Dimmock
 Donate to 'Help for Heroes' - a charity for the wounded in Britain's current conflicts:
Perhaps all too many of us acknowledge the 2 minutes silence and then spend the rest of the year in blissful ignorance. A record number of British troops are being seriously injured as a result of the continuing conflicts in the Middle East. We can walk our beloved fells in freedom thanks to the selfless actions of our troops and other NATO service personnel. Perhaps some of us might be moved to donate to this worthy cause . Surely a few pounds is nothing compared to the trauma some men and women are being subjected to. Go on, dig deep in your pocket..... THANKS.
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 The continued good fortune of being in Cumbria along with good weather, continued again on this outing, as a few OFC again gathered in Coniston. My intentions were not to stay in Coniston, but with £100 to give to Coniston MRT it seemed logical to overnight in Coniston for two nights in order to make the best of my time. Robbie K had already contacted me to say he would join me and Lorraine also hinted at a walk out. However, as with all things, matters can change but I was mighty pleased when those who said they would walk did so. Along with myself, Robbie, Lorraine and even Steven P joined me on the long ascent of the Walna Scar Road from the village. It really was a magic morning! |
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 This year I planned to be in Coniston over the Remembrance weekend. Great Gable, for many years my object of ascent on this iconic Sunday seemed a distant peak and so for practical purposes I set my sights on the summit of Great Carrs where I had visited the Halifax memorial on occasions before. With hindsight it turned out I was glad to ascend the mountain this day with four fellow OFc members, for although Great Gable was again graced by a large throng for the FRCC service, the top of Great Carrs saw but 9 to remember 8 brave men of the Canadian Royal Air Force who died there in October 1944. |
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