Security indicators update - 21/09/20
An SSL Certificate has been applied to the website, so it now uses the HTTPS protocol. You will see a padlock next to the URL www.fdhwc.org.uk.
Covid-19
All Club meetings, meets and activities are now cancelled until further notice. The Fire Station have announced that the meeting room will not be available until 2021.
Covid-19 - Phase 3 of easing lockdown restrictions
On 9th July, the Scottish Goverment moved us into Phase 3 of easing lockdown restrictions. Because of this, Mountaineering Scotland has updated their guidelines for individual members and member clubs. They keep updating them - last updated 17th September 2020. See details here.
President's August Catch-Up
Wednesday 19th August 2020
Hello everyone,
I hope you are all well and are enjoying a summer which I would guess is different
from any summers we have yet known.
The Club is in limbo!
It is mid-August, the nights are drawing in and the Phase 3 easing of lockdown
restrictions hasn’t allowed resumption of Club outings, activities and indoor
meetings: there are the issues with shared transport, the parking of numerous cars,
the limitations on meeting outdoors – groups of up to 15 people from up to 5 different
households, and 2 metre social distancing.
More Phase 3 easing of restrictions is planned for 24th August and 14th September,
but these dates are dependent on keeping the virus suppressed. We’ll just have to
wait and see if they go ahead and if the easing will allow some resumption in some
form of Club outings and activities.
Meanwhile, the Committee is keeping up to date with the guidelines and advice from
the Government and Mountaineering Scotland so that we will be ready to resume
activities again when it’s possible to do so. The Club website has a link to the latest
Mountaineering Scotland guidelines.
I know that many of you are thoroughly enjoying getting out and about in the hills
again on your own or with family and friends, which is great! And the many fine walks
in our local areas of Angus are still being enjoyed, too.
Thanks to all those who have sent in photos of their wanderings and explorations
and to Colin who puts them up on the website for us all to enjoy and perhaps be
tempted to do some of these local walks ourselves.
Please keep sending photos to Colin for the Club website and put them on the Club
Facebook page. Not all members are on Facebook, however, so it’s good to have
them for the website, too. If we can’t get together for a walk, we all like seeing where
folk have got to.
You will read in the Meet Secretary’s update that the weekend meet to Skye on 11th
to 13th September has been cancelled and that the hostel has refunded the deposit.
Steve will contact those who have booked and paid to organise their refund.
Graeme Harris will be organising a work party for the Bourach for a weekend day in
September to carry out the work necessary to winter-proof the shelter.
Meantime, the Committee is waiting for the opportunity to get Club outings and
activities going again when restrictions allow. They may possibly be in a different
format to accommodate the rules. We’ll just have to wait and see what can be done,
and try it out!
When will that be, I wonder?
Looking forward to seeing you again, and hopefully sooner rather than later.
Happy wanderings and best wishes to you all.
Linda.
NEW! Phase 3 : club members' stories and photos
See Lockdown stories and photos - Phase 3Phases 1 and 2 lockdown : club members' stories and photos can be viewed here, here and here
NEW! Friday 24th August 2020 - Congratulations John!
Honorary Member, John Norrie celebrated his 90th birthday on Monday 24th August.
The whole family stayed on a trawler moored in Inverness and went to son's Graham’s where he’d organised to have a tandem for the day!
Many screams were heard around Kiltarlity as Graham whizzed them up the road! They both managed a run out on the road with Graham at the helm
but John did take over on the front on the way back. John enjoyed it so much he is looking for a tandem now.
John spent hours talking to the skipper of the trawler discussing
every fishing boat every built, beating the family at dominoes and had many a dram!! All great fun!!
Some photos of John can be found here. There had be to some piping photos as John has piped many people
to the top of their last Munro.
Of course John is Rita's toy-boy. She reached her 90th birthday ahead of him in May and her story and some photos (some with John) can be
found here.
Saturday 5th September - Davie's Bourach - Workparty
This went ahead with 6 members attending. See report and photos here.
CHANGE OF WEEKEND CO-ORDINATOR
Neil Sangster has decided to stand down as Weekend Co-ordinator.
The Club is sorry to lose Neil as Weekend Co-ordinator, so personally and on behalf
of the Committee and the members of the FDHWC, the president would like to say a big thank
you to Neil for taking on the job and for all the time and effort that went into doing it
so well for all the enthusiastic “weekenders”.
Fortunately, a replacement for Neil has volunteered. Carolyn Smith is willing to take
over the job of Weekend Co-ordinator.
On behalf of the Club, thank you, Carolyn. We wish you well in your new role – once
weekend meets resume!
Weekend meets 2020-2021
These have been published here. Obviously whether they go ahead will depend on the situation at the time. The first, in November, is to be held in the Glencoe Ski Club hut, so it will depend on that club's arrangements, and on Government and Mountaineering Scotland guidelines at that time.
For Sale - ice axe
An ex-member has an almost new Camp HL 250 ice-axe. Length 70cm (27.5 inches). Used twice, hardly a mark on it. Lightweight. Same model as used by the president and meet secretary. Currently selling new at around £40. Suggest bids of £15 to £20 would suffice.
Upcoming events
None planned at present
Embroidered Club Clothing
Contact Debbie & Brian for latest availability and prices at aquarian@unitelmail.co.uk.