Our meeting this evening was well attended by 24 members and we were delighted to welcome Mr Roy Turner from Bury Cine Society who gave us an excellent presentation of the film he made some 20 years ago about the Pennine Way. 

Roy and his friend, Jim Holden (the cyclist in the film)
traversed the 267 miles of footpaths in stages, filming over a period of 3 years – from the walk’s start in Edale in the Derbyshire Peak District and on through the Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland National Park - finally finishing the route at Kirk Yetholm.  Place names such as Pen-y-Ghent and Fountain Fells in the Three Peaks country - and the dramatic scenery of the glaciated valley, High Cup Nick - were familiar to some of our members who had walked the route previously.  The rest of us where happy to remain arm-chair observers.  But what views!

The film was shot through different seasons: in torrential rain across wind-swept moorland; in early spring with the last of the winter snow still on the hill tops; in low-lying cloud; and on bright summer days.  And, so it would seem, always ending in a pub at the end of the day in the company of Roy’s friend, the late David Currie (the man with the infamous pipe!)  

Stuart, who had invited Roy along, introduced him to club members and proposed a vote of thanks after the show.  Thank you, Roy, for an entertaining and most enjoyable evening and for giving us your time.  We very much appreciate it!

For further information on Bury Cine Society take a look at their website http://www.burycine.org.uk/

Readers might be interested in the following facts about the Pennine Way, courtesy of Wikipedia:   “A survey by the National Trails agency reported that a walker covering the entire length of the trail is obliged to navigate 287 gates, 249 timber stiles, 183 stone stiles and 204 bridges. 319 kilometres (198 mi) of the route is on public footpaths, 112 kilometres (70 mi) on public bridleways and 32 kilometres (20 mi) on other public highways. The walker is aided by the provision of 458 waymarks.” 

If anyone disagrees with these figures, feel free to set the record straight!

Our next meeting is on Friday, 21 January 2011 and this will be the Club’s first AGM.  Please come along if possible.  We want everyone’s ideas and suggestions for the future running of the club – what you’d like to see/do, etc and it is important that we have as many members there as possible.  Please join us!