The BMC Northumberland Festival

Report by Andi Turner

Rolling in at 9pm on Friday night, I wasn’t expecting too much. Miles of dull and drizzly weather so me cruising past the Purdy Lodge only to see black clouds drifting inland and soaking the campsite. Still every cloud has a silver lining and as the moon waxed gibbous above and cast our monochrome shadows onto the quagmire I smiled at the ease that the pegs bedded in beneath my squelching shoe and the imminence of the a quiet pint at the hosting Blue Bell Hotel.

But something was amiss. Pushing back the door into the bar I was hit by the heat of a hundred gabbling climbers and walkers. The path to the bar obstructed by rock stars of past and present all mingling merrily and whispering of the prospect of sound weather for the up coming days.

I soon realised I’d missed something as the word on most folks lips was that of the recently concluded slide show of Andy and John Earl, who’d covered the vast majority of the county crags development over the previous decades. The night then continued jovially, old friends met and new friends forged, surely the purpose of such a festival?

Niall Grimes on The Tube, Back Bowden. Photo: Jon Read                      Andi Turner at Bowden Doors. Photo: Jon Read     

The following morning dawned too bright for dreary eyes and people made their way out for coastal walks or cragging. People spread far and wide, but the climbers honed in on Bowden Doors for bouldering and routing. The damp crag funnelled most away from the wave and onto the southern reaches of the crag. Ifound it strange, the quiet county feeling like a sunny Stanage Sunday, but somehow it wasn’t disturbing, instead the crag felt alive with banter and frenzied ticking, but in a laid back Nortumberland fashion.

In the afternoon  some sloped off to take part in the AGM whilst others continued pulling on the slopers. The AGM saw Rehan Siddiqui elected as new BMC Vice President and Brian Griffiths and David Lanceley were elected as new Joint Honorary Treasurers. Eventually, tired arms and worn tips won the day and the remaining climbers retreated to the Blue Bell in search of refreshment and to tell their days stories. Most looked atleast a little tanned and wind blasted and all looked exhausted from activities.

Chris Moor on Chris's Arete at Kyloe Out . Photo: Simon Jacques

The evening’s events revolved around the turntables of Sam Whittaker and Harry Pennels who had come up especially for the task in hand and to lose Harry’s county cherry on the following Sunday. There was also an amazing display of buffet food as well as a set of awe inspiring photographs which were auctioned in aid of the air ambulance. Catching my eye was the dressed salmon, which looked a sight more attractive than the leggings worn in the era defining photographs of Andy Birtwistle’s!

Sunday saw loose ends tied off, Saturdays failings finished off and last minute ticks realised. From early afternoon people began to say their farewells and head drearily home.

All in all from my distant perspective, I can’t imagine how an AGM could have ran any better. The feeling of meeting, greeting and sharing with such a cross section of the BMC community was quite overwhelming. Ideas were shared, future trips planned and camaraderie cemented until next time the ships pass by. A strong message indeed sent from the quiet county.

Sam Whittaker sorting the tunes. Photo: Simon Jacques

More information can be found here:  http://www.thebmc.co.uk/News.aspx?id=2518

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