Tricouni Club members are acutely aware that they derive enormous pleasure from access to the British hills, particularly in Cumbria, and consequently like to give something back. So, in addition to contributions by individual members at Seatoller Meets, the Club as a body makes substantial annual donations to both the local Mountain Rescue Teams based in Keswick and Cockermouth. Happily we have not so far needed to call upon their services, but we are full of admiration for the dedication and hard work of this Team, as well as their counterparts in the neighbouring valleys, from fund-raisers right through to first responders. Probably many members of the public remain blissfully unaware of the amount of organisation, training, and downright hard work that goes into running an effective Mountain Rescue Team. Unfortunately, pressures on all these voluntary organisations has increased significantly in recent times, with many casual visitors to the hills regarding the teams as ‘the AA of the mountains’, and therefore having unrealistic and unreasonable expectations.
The Tricouni Club is a small organisation with limited resources, but also likes to do what it can to enhance the mountain environment. A truly practical opportunity presented itself at Easter 1962 when, after the cairn on Lingmell was completely vandalised, a member of the Fell and Rock Club approached us for help. At the time the membership included a reasonable number of strong men, so given a day of unusually benign weather, the job was done. Even so, it took a substantial team a long tiring day to achieve. We evidently did a good job as the rebuilt cairn stood up well to the toll of Lake District weather and visitors alike for about 48 years, but sadly has now been badly damaged again and requires another total rebuild. Unfortunately, the Club’s present age profile probably means that we would have to join forces with another group to manage the task effectively. More photos in the Bill Neate collection.
The Lingmell Cairn rebuild team near the end of the day, and just before the finishing touches to the cap stones. One representative from the Fell & Rock Club, the remainder all Tricouni Club members.
This heading may surprise some, but probably countless thousands of visitors to Great Gable and the Scafell massif have benefited, all unknowingly, from a gift from the pockets of the Tricouni Club members. The usual route from Borrowdale to these and many other places in the central fells lies right through the middle of Seathwaite Farmyard. The Tricouni Club paid for the National Trust to pave this large farmyard with granite cobbles. Those old enough, and with long-term memories to match, will recall the simply dreadful and vile farmyard mire that one often had to wade through, sometimes almost knee-deep, prior to this work being done. You can now pass through virtually dry-shod, and offer up a silent prayer of thanks! There used to be a commemorative plaque celebrating this work, attached to the wall of one of the farm buildings, but it would seem that someone has removed it, perhaps for a souvenir! The Club also gave a substantial donation to have the huge cairn on Scafell Pike repaired after one side of it collapsed.
Tricounis Richard Ling and David Baggaley inspecting the finished cobbles at Seathwaite farm
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