My early years living on the fringe of the Peak District and within a short drive of Snowdonia, meant that walking was always something to be enjoyed. My first job was in Cheshire (with the Min of Ag, Fish and Food) where I joined the local climbing and caving club. Whilst in Cheshire I discovered winter climbing in Scotland which in turn led to four summer trips to the Alps where we climbed many of the classic (ie easy) snow and ice routes including the Matterhorn, Eiger west face, Aiguille de Chardonnet, Mt Blanc and Monte Rosa. Unusually for climbers at the time, we enjoyed our walking as much as our climbing.

In my mid 20s I moved Departments to Wolverhampton VAT where I did little walking but carried on skiing. Following my divorce in my 30s I applied for and got, a job with Customs in Plymouth - probably the first place I moved to because I actually wanted to live and work there. Dartmoor was on my doorstep and holidays in Scotland, North Wales, Europe and America gave me regular fixes of walking and/or skiing.

All my family (on both sides) come from the north of England and when my parents left me a bit of money I had no hesitation in buying a cottage in the Lakes ten years ago, which I would let out for seven years before moving up when I took early retirement three years ago. Today I still walk and ski with the odd gentle scramble. I have a season ticket for Stoke City (someone has to do it) and I shoot grey squirrels when they venture into my garden; this took a bit of psyching myself up for but it has to be done if the reds are to survive. I count myself lucky to live in one of the most beautiful and mountainous areas of Britain - especially as it is full of people (such as OFC members) who feel the same way about it as I do.