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In the years since the OFC was founded there has been some excellent content within the published messages on the message board. Sadly some of this content is lost to the message archive so this section is a chance to let some more interested members present their news, views, walks and ideas. Meet our correspondents from around the country and further afield. To see their current articles follow the relevant links on the left. (They are featured in alphabetical order). If you feel you would like to be featured then please get in touch.  | Jill Batchelor 
We love to visit the Lakes as often as we can but living so far away on the east coast of Kent means it's a long way to travel. The digital age of photography reignited my love of taking photographs and I started to look for local places to visit and walk. I soon discovered a wealth of local nature reserves and beautiful woodlands, and I love to take pictures of the local flora and fauna learning all about them at the same time. Taking pictures of the wonderful landscapes of the Lake District is still special to me, but I also enjoy close-up photography of things like butterflies and orchids. |  | Terry Bottomley
[Awaiting biography]
|  | Peter Burgess - Fellrunning
I founded the OFC in 2001 during the 'Foot and Mouth' outbreak and many people know that story. I think the high places are immensely spiritual and to many of us almost a religion in themselves. If the mountains make us think, or give us time to ponder that can only be a good thing. I think everyone should be prescribed a dose of fell country washed down with a pint of Melbre'k at the end! Take care and happy fellwalking. I hope you enjoy my sojourns around the world and can take time out to view my Youtube videos. | 
| Jayne Hill - The View From
17 years of holidays and snatched weekends in Cumbria ended in November 2007 when Max (husband), Ollie (Bearded Collie) and I finally escaped from over-crowded Hampshire and moved to a rented house in Cockermouth whilst we look for a permanent home to buy. Exiles no more. I don't have a huge desire to "tick off" all 214 Wainwrights but I do find myself wanting to walk as AW did; I love to walk alone and get great pleasure from going back to the same fell time and time again until I feel I really know it. As I walk very slowly getting to know all the fells in this way is going to take a very long time - and that's fine by me! |  | Helmut Hudler - Alpine Angle 
From teenager on I loved to climb mountains, first with my parents, then with my first wife and on several occasions with good companions, climbing some high mountains in glacier regions in Austria, Italy and Switzerland. The second passion, combining with the first, was fotography, in the pre-digital area mostly colour slides. Most of my high walks have been documented by many slides, for which I spent much money. | 
| Frances Lawrie 
From Leith, Edinburgh but have lived in Linlithgow for 30 years. Married with 2 sons, 1 of whom was married last year. I walk anywhere in Scotland and its islands that has mountains and almost anywhere else that is in the country. Also have walked in Yorkshire, The Lakes, France, Austria, Northern Ireland and Wicklow mountains in Ireland. I am a member of Linlithgow ramblers and through them starting doing the Munros, (completed on 30/09/2007) also Corbetts, Grahams and Donalds, oh and the odd Wainwright :-)). Only camp or back pack if the hills are remote and the bike gets an odd airing if tracks allow and long distances have to be covered. Mountain skills are limited to trying not to get lost but do enjoy winter walking. My other pastime is genealogy and going over to Canada this year in connection with this. |  | Andrew Leaney
Born and bred in deepest Sussex I developed an interest in mountaineering through the Scouting movement. I dabbled in rock and ice-climbing at university, followed by mountain marathons and orienteering whilst living in the South East, but have now returned to my main passion - fell walking in the Lake District. For several years, work kept me tied to a desk and the motorway network so I am now making the most of our decision to move to Cumbria. A slower pace of life and much nicer scenery. Website at http://www.leaney.org. |  | Geoff Mackenzie
My love of the Lakes is such that I would dearly love to live there one day (in my dreams!). The wonderful friendship and fellowship within the OFC has considerably enhanced my feelings for the Lakes and other delights like the Peak District, which is on my doorstep. I feel highly privileged to be able to support this new sister site and hope my small contributions will be of some interest to members, as I reflect in different ways on 'AW', hoping it will possibly act as a catylist for members to add their own comments from their considerably greater wealth of knowledge and experience of Lakeland. |  | Sean McMahon
I live on the south-western edge of the Lake District and like to get out walking on the fells as often as possible. I am usually accompanied on my walks by my two dogs, Angus and Casper, who are both Bearded Collies and on occasions by my 6 year old daughter Connie and my wife Louise. I have lived in the area all my life and have been walking the fells for ages. Our fell walking adventures can be followed at http://www.stridingedge.net and in the bi-monthly publication, Lake District Life. |  | John Paterson - Fornside Chronicle
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. | 
| Steven Procter
As a child I used to always going out walking in the Furness area with my parents but it was only in my mid twenties that I first decided I wanted see what it was like up the hills I'd seen from Barrow. Helvellyn in jeans and T-shirt was my first walk, armed with a Mars bar, camera and a can of Coke! Now I split my time between Wardle (near Rochdale) and Barrow. This has opened up new areas for me, the Dales and the Peak District being my newest playgrounds. I hope my contributions will be as interesting as other members, it's good to know such people. |  | Mark Richards
Like many another the Cumbrian fells have held a lifetime's attraction. Brought up in the far flung west Oxfordshire countryside, the romance of the high fells had tugged at my emotions from my youth. Six years ago my wife and I were able to up sticks and make a permanent home amongst the north Pennine fells within sight and easy striking distance of Lakeland. To have a creative project devoted to a thorough personal exploration of those fells was an absolute must. The move was triggered by a sought after commission to produce Lakeland Fellranger, an eight-part guide for HarperCollins. Recently this series too has found its natural Cumbrian home, with specialist publisher Cicerone Press, thus assuring completion of my task, with a long-term perspective.
My early experience of walking in fell country came in two guises. My mother's cousin was a farm manager on a fell estate near Kirkby Lonsdale. Hence summer holidays were spent gathering sheep and tending cattle, though busmen's holidays from my stockman's life in Oxfordshire, these were great experiences, framing my outlook to the magic of fell country. By my late teens the lure of mountains as a recreation took a real hold and shortly after joining a mountaineering club, I met, and became a regular house-guest of Alfred Wainwright. Just being with such a gifted artist and writer was very special. We shared a delight in drawing, and in pouring over maps and walk ideas. He quickly saw my own appetite for pen and ink and my passion for the countryside, the fells in particular, and he encouraged me to consider creating my own illustrated guides. He was still engaged in creating practical walk guides and not the least bit interested in publicity, nor notoriety. Hence I felt I had the honour to know the real AW and from his influence have always sought to be distinct, as he too sought and achieved distinction.
Mark Richard's website can be reached at www.markrichards.info
|  | Jill Rowland
I live in Yorkshire and fell in love with the Lake District fells when I was in my twenties after climbing Great Gable. Thirty years later I am still in love. I joinedthe OFC in the very early days when there were only a handful of members and it's been one of the best things I have done, making many friendshipswhich will last for a lifetime. With only 37 Wainwrigts to go, I know I would not have got so far without them all. |  | V-G
We are Vivien and Geoff, owners of the Backpacking in Britain website. We live in East Cheshire which is centrally placed for travel to walking areas in England, Wales and southern Scotland. Having retired a few years ago (very early), we can backpack the wilderness areas of the country at any time all the year round, the only limitations being the weather and sufficient energy! |
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"It was great to see so many old friends again and to meet new people who have now become familiar names on the message board." Jill Rowland on the Honister 2007 weekend
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