A life member of the Association, Timothy Smith, passed away in July 2020. He was a member of the SAC (Monte Rosa, Sion Section) since 1956. His exploits included many alpine ascents from the 1950s through to visits to Tibet, Lhasa and the Himalayas through to the 1990s.
He painted many watercolours, from his photographs, of mountains that he visited over the years. His wife has given permission for some of Timothy’s paintings to be on the website for members to enjoy.

BMC multiple membership refund form is now available for this year.

The Annual General Meeting was attended by around 30 members on Saturday evening, 6 February, via Zoom.
Andy Burton was elected President for the next three years, with Ed Bramley becoming Treasurer and Julie Freemantle the Membership Secretary. We wish them all success in their new roles.
The Treasurer reported that the finances were in good shape. The proposed amendments to the Rules of Association were passed.
James Baldwin, as Director of GSHL, gave an update on the Hut agreement and the maintenance work currently being carried out. In addition, Heather Eddowes has agreed to be Chair of the Hut Management Committee. 
James was thanked for his last three years as President. Both James and Belinda have a long relationship with the ABM, going back to the 1960s, between them they have served 29 years on the Committee and organised meets. A big thank you to you both.
The minutes of the AGM were circulated to members in the latest Newsletter.

The Committee has produced some advice to club members attending club meets during the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. Please read the note.
Worth a read before you venture out for a day on the hills.

Pamela has sent me details of a new guidebook of the Lake District from Lesley Williams, co owner of Cicerone and a guest at our annual dinner in 2019. Lesley gives an insight in preparing a guidebook for publication and a short video promotes the new book, out in April.

Past news

George Starkey Hut

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We are pleased to inform you that the hut will re-open to members from Thursday 15th April.

Bookings are for ‘1 bubble’ for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Stays can be extended by one more night either - Thursday night or Monday night subject to the previous or following booking. In the first instance a gap of 72 hours will be left between each booking. Watch the hut website for changes in this dynamic situation. More bed nights will become available as lockdown restrictions allow. Advance booking is absolutely essential. To book go to the hut website and click on Member Bookings.

The hut is in Patterdale near Ullswater, at the heart of the Lake District’s Eastern Fells. It is ideally placed for the High Street range to the East, whilst from the front there is a splendid view of Helvellyn and its neighbouring fells: to reach them, all you have to do is put on your boots and walk from the hut.

There are rock climbing and mountain biking opportunities from the front door, canoeing and sailing on Ullswater and pony trekking locally.

Since mid 2016 we have had a new hut partner, the Alpine Club. The hut is run on behalf of both clubs by a limited company, George Starkey Hut Limited. The Hut warden is Marian Parsons. The hut has a Members Room with eight beds and a further 20 beds in two rooms. Under current Covid-19 restrictions clubs and groups are not allowed to book into the hut. Members can book directly through the Hut website. Before booking for the first time please register on the system.

From 1 October 2020 the overnight rates were increased to £9 per night for members and £16 for non-members/guests.

For any questions about registering or booking please email the Hut Booking Secretaries on george.starkey.hut@gmail.com.

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Last Updated: 13 May 2021