Another bumper programme for the next three months. Keep your letters and comments pouring in and I’ll do my best to answer them, nothing controversial though.

A great time was had by all at Badaguish this New Year, but unfortunately we had not realised that the rental price did not include electricity or gas costs. We have now received a somewhat larger bill than we were expecting and would therefore be very grateful if everyone who attended could chip in another £3 per head. Monica will be glad to accept this in the form of cheques or cash. Apologies for this extra charge, but the meet still represents excellent value.

Allison Whyte ( I just included the second name in case any new members didn't know me!)

I have been chosen as a member of an expedition to Ladakh in the Himalayas this summer organized by BSES (formally the British Schools Exploring Society). The aim of the expedition is to do some scientific research including surveying, geology, botany etc. and then participate in an adventurous activity such as mountaineering that might include a six thousand metre peak. Part of the challenge is to raise as much of the £2500 cost of the expedition as possible through sponsorship. My plan to raise money is to climb ten of the Mamores in a day. This is likely to take place in May/June. Please help by sponsoring me per top or by providing a donation.

Thank you very much for your support!

Just a few words to bring you all up to date. Harrold has had an enthusiastic response from some former members who are both willing to contribute and interested in purchasing a copy copy of the book. Work has also started on researching the Club archives and logbooks. The latter however is somewhat hampered by the absence of the logbook for the period July 1987 – August 1991 from the Club library. We would urge anyone who has borrowed log books in the past or knows of someone who has to thoroughly check their bookshelves or dusty piles in corners or lofts for this valuable tome. We are very keen to track it down, not only for the book but also as part of the Club history, so please if you have any information however small it may seem let one of us know as soon as possible. Absolutely no recriminations for its safe return!

Colin Farrow and Harrold Thompson

We have been considering a suitable trip to mark the club’s anniversary in 2004, but so far have not managed to identify anywhere with the usual ‘ingredients’, for example somewhere we can go in the summer holidays, with camping/hostels and a range of walking options. If you have any wonderful ideas, please contact Sue or a member of the committee, so we can start exploring some of the ideas.

Our very own Douglas Philp will be entertaining us on mountain rescue. Douglas is with the Arrochar MR and will undoubtedly enthrall us with tales of daring and courage and 2-way radios.

A day trip to Dalmally meet at the station and thence to Ben Cruachan, Ben Eunaich or wherever.

"When I was in……." Some slides from mountains and rock faces around the world probably including the Alps, Pyrenees, Kenya, Egypt, California, Ireland and Scotland.

Accomodation at Glen Doll YH. We have exclusive use of the hostel. Plenty of space, cost likely to be £ 8.00 per night. Please send £ 10.00 per head deposit to me at 34, Drumlin Drive, Milngavie, G62 6NH ASAP.

Starting 8 pm sharp at AMF Bowling, Elliot Street, Glasgow, (you can see it from the Express Way). The cost is £2.95 for the first game and £2.35 for subsequent games (if we want and if there is time). I will need to know numbers to book the lanes, so please let me know if you would like to come and join in – what promises to be a good fun evening by 25 th March, thanks.

Please note this is a Saturday meet. The ferry from Ardrossan is at 9.45am, please leave yourself time to buy tickets. Return ferries are at 13.50pm and 16.50pm. The cost is £3.30 single fare. You can walk from the ferry terminal or catch a bus to get further round the island. It would cost £41.40 to get a car there and back (plus the cost of the people). There is a great fish and chip shop at the end of the day.

What would motivate you to try and complete all the munros in record time? This is what Charlie did last year (48 days and 12 hours). Come and hear his story, the months of planning and preparation; the moments of pain and exhilaration. A fascinating tale and fully illustrated with slides. During his epic Charlie worked to collect for the ‘Dreams Come True’ a charity which gives terminally ill children a wish. Charlie would like to make a collection on the night for this charity so please come prepared.

This Easter we are heading back to a favourite haunt – Ullapool and staying in the comfortable West House. This private hostel is fully equipped with self-catering kitchen and bed linen (duvets) are provided, Unfortunately there are only 22 beds, although in Ullapool there is a SYHA hostel; a range of B & Bs and the campsite. To reserve a place, phone Sue, a deposit of £15 is required by 1 April.

The full address is West Argyll Street, Ullapool IV26 2TY.

5 miles from Craignure ferry terminal. Cost 4.5 pounds/night Climb Ben More, the 2 corbets, cycle or visit Iona. Ring Gill to book your place asap. inorder that she can organise ferry bookings & people joining forces for Oban - Craignuire crossing.

Come along, voice your opinions & vote for next year's committee members.

A lovely small campsite in an idealic area. Campsite bookings not

possible so arrive early to secure your tent space.

The BMC established the above trust in March 2000 and its objectives are

To develop a national strategy for the recording and preservation of mountain heritage material

To create a permanent national display – a national Exhibition

To increase public awareness of mountaineering and mountain environment

To support public education regarding the skills and safe conduct of mountaineering.

This work has been progressing and the Trust is associated with the opening of the British Exhibition of Mountaineering at Rheged Discovery Centre, Penrith, Cumbria.

The BMC is now trying to identify and where appropriate loan ‘heritage’ items i.e. records and letters to clothing and hardware.

This work is fully supported by the Mountaineering Council for Scotland who point out that that identified items of Scottish interest recorded by the Trust need not necessarily be moved to Rheged but could well be a catalyst for the establishment of a suitable facility in Scotland.

If as an individual you have items that might me of interest to the Trust, you could contact the BMC direct at 177-179, Burton road, Manchester, M20 2BB (tel 0161 445 4747 email office@thebmc.co.uk) or see Sue Johnston who has Response Forms. The committee will consider items, which belong to the Club.

The result of the referendum on bothy grid references was 2 to 1 (approx.) in favour of publication of this information, which will appear in the next issue of the Members Handbook.

At the reconvened A.G.M. (the first was inquorate, partly due to the date coinciding with acute petrol shortage) in October, no volunteers were found to fill the vacancies of General Secretary and Director of Projects. The Chairman put this matter to the membership very succinctly- "unless we find a General Secretary and unless we find a Director of Projects to provide leadership for our maintenance programme and unless we have more members coming forward to support our committee, then the M.B.A. as we know it is history!!!". A Publicity Officer and a Calendar Editor are also required. Any volunteers for any of these vacancies?

A M.B.A. member Geoff Harrison, is compiling a comprehensive slide library of M.B.A. bothies, both past and present. If anyone has such slides, Geoff would be very pleased if he could borrow them the slides being returned in due course.

The newsletter contained many interesting articles on various subjects, such as one entitled "Hillwalker and Deerstalker", another one about a long journey (timewise) to a bothy by two post-buses and yet another on the history of the use of "Nest of Fannich" bothy (now, unfortunately, no more, as it was destroyed by fire in 1985).

All the above and much more is contained in the current M.B.A. Newsletter, which is available from the Club Library (see Gill Cook, Librarian).

This booklet is now available (again from the Club Library) primarily for use of volunteers taking part in bothy work parties. I commend this booklet to all- as well as giving much Health and Safety guidance (useful for D.I.Y. jobs around and outside your own home!), there is much other useful information on personal hygiene, protection of water supply, biting insects etc., from which club bothiers and campers could benefit.

Harrold Thomson