Back at the helm of this august publication. It is my pleasure to present to you a veritable box of delights, a cornucopia interesting outings and treasure trove of tantalising adventures for the taking.

Congratulations to Rhona Dykes finished her Munros on October 14^th on Meall A’Bhuiridh.

The club website has been operational for nearly four months thanks to John McPartlin and we would like to encourage everyone to use it. John is very keen to encourage members to use in particular the message board which lends some dynamism to the site. The stop press page is also very valuable for posting last minute changes to the programme. The logbook page has proved very successful, not suprising given the wealth of literary talent in the club. John would like to encourage logbook write ups to be submitted to him in electronic form. Very welcome would be photographs and if these could be E mailed, for instance as JPEGS or similar electronic format, that would be ideal.

The committee has been asked by a number of members to provide guidance on sharing travel costs. It has been the practice to share the actual cost of fuel between the driver and passengers. The committee accepts that this does not cover hidden costs such as depreciation and wear and tear etc. It also accepts that these hidden costs equal themselves out if everyone takes a turn using their car, but this is not always the case. The committee has decided to issue guidance and suggest a rate of 20 p per car per mile, shared among those travelling in the car. This rate to become effective from this years’ New Year meet. The actual amount charged will be at the discretion of the driver.

Volunteers wanted. As many of you will recall as part of the celebrations for the forthcoming 50^th birthday of the Club a group of us are researching the history of the Club. The ABC team (Anniversary Book Co-ordinating team) has identified a number of topics listed below about which we would like to see articles included in the book. Volunteers are urgently required, so please let us know if you are able to help. Contributors have already volunteered for the starred items but others are always welcome to assist.

Photographs wanted. Everyone is asked to let us know if they have photographs (prints or slides) particularly those with pictures of members (past and present), notable events and places. At this stage a list of what you have available would be much appreciated.

Sound bites wanted. We are also seeking to get as many current and past Club members as possible contributing some anecdotes or sound bites to the proposed publication to make it a book of the Club by the Club. To this end we are inviting everyone to spare a few minutes to answer one or more of the questions below. Feel free to write as little or as much as you wish. Hand written will do, as long as it is legible. Subject to editorial control these will be compiled into a section of the book. We are deliberately setting a short deadline, whilst the days are short, dark and wet, so go and get your pen, pencil or word processor busy NOW. Remember the Club needs your contribution.

How did you become a member of the Glasgow Glenmore Club?

Describe your most memorable meet/ moment/ expedition/ experience with the Club.

What do you enjoy most/ least about the Club?

Do you have any memorable quotes from fellow members?

Any other anecdotes you would like to relate.

Please pass your contributions as soon as possible and no later than 1 December 2001 to Colin Farrow.

Thank you, Harrold, Connie, Caroline, John and Colin.

Does anyone have a list of club Munroists that might be useful for tracking down ex-members from the distant past?

The Ardlui Hotel have kindly agreed to let us meet in their car park: we are likely to meet in their bar later. But first……………………………. Vault over the Vorlichs and the Vanes, bound up a Beinn or take a tour over Troisgeach! Ice axes advisable at this time of year.

This is being held at the lesser Partick Burgh Hall with The Reel Thing (the fastest strippers-of-the willow in the West!)

Bring:

Cost: £6.00 (children free)

We have booked the whole hostel for 4 nights (29th, 30^th, 31^st, 1^st). Cost per night is £5.00 – although this might rise if all bed-nights are not taken. Good territory for multiple- munro-baggers (don’t forget your head-torch!) Book places now with Caroline by sending cheque payable to Glasgow Glenmore Club.

Meet at the car park marked PC on the map just by the river at 9.30 a.m. Lets hope for snow. Tarmachan ridge in full snow would be a treat as would the Lawers group and the hills up Glen Lochay.

Our very own John Donnelly and Gill Cook went to Peru last summer so that we can enjoy their magic lantern show on this far away land. As two of the speediest members of the club they will have covered a lot of ground and will have much have seen much to enlighten us with.

Our annual Burns bash this year just a day beyond the day when a "blast of Januar’ win’ blew hansel in on Robin" . This year will be self-catering and I will be looking volunteers for cooking and addressing haggises and lassies etc. The Hostel (01855 831 253) offers very comfortable, high quality bunkhouse accommodation. All rooms have en-suite facilities, TV and central heating. We have reserved all 39 places confident that we will fill it. The hostel will cost you £21.00 for the two nights assuming we fill it. There will be a charge to cover the costs of the meal yet to be determined. Hillwise what more could you ask for Nevis, the Grey Corries and Mamores in winter dress we hope, sharpen up those front points and vocal chords and book in good time. Send a cheque may payable to the Glasgow Glenmore Club £21.00 to Dave Watson in order to secure your place.

First Aid Thursday January 31^st Hillhead Library 7.30 for 8

Under the guidance of Douglas and Joan Phelp come along and tie each other up with bandages and practise the kiss of life just what you need if your feeling half dead. You never know when these skills might come in handy.

Meet at the Green Welly Car Park (GR329306) at 9.30. Super hills on all sides, a chance of real winter conditions and lengthening daylight. Always a well attended meet.

Glenmore quiz night with a difference. A wee bit more light hearted this one. More general knowledge, sport, T.V. etc. Perhaps just one round on the hills, oh, and by the way what was Minnie Caldwell’s cat called.

A new venue for the club (aye the bunkhouse not the town). Sleeps 22. No need to wax on about this area it speaks for itself. One of the most popular meets for winter hillwalking and one for the club skiers. Remember them? Now’s your chance to pick the summits and tops on the Mamores and Grey Corries and the Aonachs.

Ivan Young of the Grampian Caving Club has kindly agreed to come through from Edinburgh to talk to us about Scottish caves and indeed there are some substantial ones in the area around Inchnadamph. Judging by the excellent pictures on his club’s website we will have to have him back talk also about caves in even further flung parts of the world. I am certainly looking forward to his talk. "Caving Matilda, Caving Matilda who’ll come a caving…..¯ ¯ ".

The initial meeting to discuss next years summer trip was held at Brian’s house on the 9 October. This was well attended, the main contenders to date are (i) The Ecrins park in the Dauphine Alps which offers peaks and possible glacier crossings or (ii) the Pyrennes, possibly the Ordessa Valley area. Both trips are being researched further and there will be another meeting, this time at Gill’s house on 20 November, at 7.30 pm. All welcome.

There are now more than 15,000 kilometres of designated rights of way in Scotland (more than the walking distance from here to the Himalaya’s ed!), with over 1500 society signposts. A further full-time admin. assistant has been appointed to the society’s Edinburgh office. GGC members may be interested in a book entitled "A High and Lonely Place" written by Jim Cromley, about the Cairngorms and their future, with many excellent photographs (a possible Christmas present, 15.99 paperback).

Two members of the society were awarded in the New Years Honours List, both of whom have given talks to the Club and are known by many of our members, namely Donald Bennet (OBE) and Hamish Brown (MBE). Donald Bennet was made Hon. President of the Society in October 2000 after many years as Director, but unfortunately was unable to attend the awards ceremony as he suffered a severe stroke in June this year. Hamish Brown is a life member of the Society and was director for many years. This newsletter reminded members that the Society gives official illustrated talks about the history and work of the Society, available to interested bodies. (GGC had one several years ago which Club members found most interesting). Details of the Society’s recommendations, which have been submitted, regarding the land reform bill presently proceeding through the Scottish Parliament, are included in this Newsletter. The society has given grants for the refurbishment of several bridges including the Bedford Memorial Bridge in Glen Tilt, now completed and has recently also given a grant for the replacement of the bridge over Allt Gabhar (below Clashgour Farm). A large number of books for outdoor enthusiasts is kept by the Society and a list and order forms are available, any profits going to the Society.

It was reported that there have been 62 work parties at bothies over the year, with a total of 397 members contributing 1092 worker/days (next time you use a bothy just think of this……perhaps next year you could help!) M.B.A. finances were reported to be very healthy, thanks to many donations, some very generous. Some new appointments were made, but some vacancies still remain for key posts.

The usual reports of work parties at bothies were included, although these were much restricted by the Foot and Mouth outbreak. Among other locations, next year refurbishment and improvements on Shenavall bothy are planned for 14-19^th of May. Many of you will know and have possibly used this bothy-mak a note if you’re free! A summary of the main points from MBA on the Draft Scottish Outdoor Access Code (to be read in conjunction with the proposed new Scottish Land Reform Bill) in this Newsletter make very interesting reading. Other features in this newsletter include visits by "first-timers" to bothies and interesting trips to fairly remote bothies, Uags on the Applecross peninsula and Uidha on the Island of Taransay (of "Castaway" fame). The latter has been (I hope!) temporarily disowned by the MBA. All the above publications are available from the Club Librarian (Gill Cook).

H.T.