BOOTboys

BB1044 : Down Memory Lane

Thursday 2nd December 2010

If there is a common thread amongst the “founding fathers” of the BOOTboys, it is that we all worked at one time for the erstwhile Provincial Insurance Company, which had its head office in Kendal. Indeed, I still remember the 1969 day when I was interviewed for my job, in an office overlooking the river. There were salmon leaping up the weir, the sun was shining on the distant fells and I was hooked- I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else- no matter what the job!!

There should have been nine of us ex-Provites for our Christmas outing but, sadly, Graham blistered his feet in training and had to withdraw. The remaining eight met up for a nostalgic trip down a snow covered memory lane.

Our first objective was Yealand Manor, which used to be our training centre where several of us had passed many happy days and nights.

Bryan’s interest was more esoteric- he had been instrumental in setting up the remote computing and disaster recovery centre in a purpose built building in the grounds.

However, as the Manor is now privately owned, a discrete approach from the rear was needed.

Provincial Life Assurance advert

Accordingly we parked the cars at Yealand Storrs and made our way through the woods to the rear of the house.

"Follow me" says Philip

Yealand Manor

Nearing the Manor

Google aerial view

The main buildings looked pretty much as I remembered them but the computer centre was nowhere to be seen. Vanished. Gone. You can see where it was from the Google Maps photo of the site.

Philip, Bryan and I dropped down into the village (Yealand Conyers- one of Lancashire’s prettiest) and then back up through the footpath into the grounds- a route trodden many an evening on our way back from the New Inn!

Having rejoined the others, we climbed up through the woods to emerge in an open space topped by a pile of rock. We learned subsequently that a pagoda or summer house had stood there many years before and that the open space had once contained the village cricket pitch

Comitibus: Summer House Hill

Heading east, Leighton Hall and the Coniston Fells came into view and by this time it was just gone twelve.

Comitibus: Leighton Hall

The plan had been that we would travel light and eat at the Leighton Moss Nature Reserve café but Tony couldn’t take that risk. Provisions had been brought for his noon time necessities so Stan kindly remained with him to make sure he didn’t get lost whilst the rest of us pressed on.

Tony then had a little mishap. He filled his mug with the hot Bovril from his flask and put it down on the bench beside him. Or more accurately, put it down on the ice on the bench beside him. The ice duly melted, the mug slid off the bench and the Bovril went all over his shoes! Poor Tony!!

Coniston Fells

Leighton Hall

Our route lay past Leighton Hall, down to Grisedale and then over the marshes of Leighton Moss, a RSPB Nature Reserve.

As we crossed the marsh, a large bird flew overhead; we were informed that it was a bittern. A robin eyed us from close quarters.

We had a look in a hide but couldn’t see anything of note so pressed on to the café and lunch, where Tony and Stan rejoined us. It must be the most luxurious lunch stop to-date on a BB outing!

The plan had been to carry on round Hawes Water (no, not the Cumbrian one!) and Challon Hall but John L’s leg was aching so we slightly curtailed the walk.

John took the direct route back to the cars whilst the rest of us dropped down to discover the Trowbarrow Limeworks.

To quote from its fading noticeboard:

Why is this site so important?

This is the birthplace of tarmacadam.

And to think, I never knew it was there!!

Thereafter we looped round to the so called Yealand Hall Allotments (basically a wooded limestone area) to rejoin John. Philip was very relaxed on the journey home!!

We had our Christmas party in the evening.

Graham was able to join us as did Ann, Col, Joan, Jill, Liz and Margaret.

Convening in the Brewery, we abandoned the tradition of inviting the ladies to dine at a different restaurant and allowed them the honour of sharing a room, if not a table, with us at the New Moon.

Tony, where are you?

Comitibus: The New Moon

John S was unable to dine with us but awaited us at the Rifleman’s with the other musicians to draw a merry day to a close.

Sadly, for him, Tony opted out, untypically not feeling up to several more pints.

Tony- you missed some free pies!!

Finally, a Christmas present from Graham to Margaret.

Cotterdale washing

Don, 2nd December 2010

Afternote:

To my surprise, a few days after this report was published I received an e-mail from the owner of Yealand Manor. At first I wondered if we had done something naughty, although, from what I could recall, we had stuck strictly to public footpaths. However, it transpired that he was known to one of the members of our distribution list who had forwarded it to him out of interest. By coincidence, he (the owner) was that day trying to trace the exact route of the electricity cables that had joined the Manor to the back-up generator at the now demolished computer centre and wondered if we could help.

Unfortunately, Bryan hadn't been involved at the stage of laying the cables but knew who had and has passed the information on.

It's strangely rewarding to know that our little outings can provide such a value-added service!

STATISTICS:

BB1044	Thursday 2nd December 2010
Distance in miles:	5.8
Height climbed in feet:	736
Wainwrights:	-
Other Features:	Yealand Manor, Leighton Hall, Leighton Moss Nature Reserve Trowbarrow Limeworks
Comitibus:	Bryan, Don, John L, John S, Pete, Philip, Stan Tony,

If you have Memory Map on your computer, you can follow the route in detail by downloading BB1044

To see which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing see
Which Wainwright When?

For the latest totals of the mileages and heights see: BB Log.

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2010 Outings

BB1001 :
The Most Perfect
Winter Day
Thursday 7th January

BB1002 :
Snowcumabulating
Potter Fell
Thursday 14th January

BB1003 :
A Snowy Equipment Test
Thursday 21st January

BB1004 :
Leave It To The Professionals
Thursday 28th January

BB1005 :
That's A Lyth Record
Sunday 31st January

BB1006 :
Reasons To Be Cheerful
One, Two, Three
Thursday 11th February

BB1007 :
Can You See Clearly Now?
Thursday 18th February

BB1008 :
In Memory Of
Thomas Williamson
Thursday 25th February

BB1009 :
Almost a Mountaineer!
Wednessday 3rd March

BB1010 :
The Beginning Of The End
Thursday 11th March

BB1011 :
The Free Men on Tuesday
Tuesday 16th March

BB1012 :
We'll Get Them In Singles,
Stanley
Thursday 25th March

BB1013 :
The Fools on the Hill
Thursday 1st April

BB1014 :
The Windmills on the Moor
Wednesday 7th April

BB1015 :
By Lake, Ridge and Wainwright
Sunday 11th April

BB1016 :
The Ten Lake Tour (+5Ws)
Thursday 15th April

BB1017 :
The BessyBOOTboys
Thursday 22nd April

BB1018 :
The Kentmere Challenge
Saturday 24th April

BB1019 :
Winter in Springtime
Thursday 14th May

BB1020 :
Red Screes and Sausages
Thursday 20th May

BB1021 :
The Mile High Club
Thursday 27th May

BB1022 :
What A Difference A Day Makes
Thursday 3rd June

BB1023 :
Something Brutal
Thursday 10th June

BB1024 :
Rendezvous on Haycock
Thursday 17th June

BB1025 :
The Men of Gragareth
Thursday 24th June

BB1026 :
The Smardale Round
Thursday 1st July

BB1027 :
Don't Shun The Shunner!
Thursday 8th July

BB1028 :
All Around the Edge
Thursday 29th July

BB1029 :
The Return of Uncle Jamie
Thursday 5th August

BB1030 :
The Examination Results
Thursday 12h August

BB1031 :
Nick by Haggis
Thursday 19th August

BB1032 :
And Then There Were Two
Thursday 26th August

BB1033 :
A Surplus of Sheepfolds
Thursday 2nd September

BB1034 :
A Good One For Tony
Thursday 23rd September

BB1035 :
The Wainwright Triathlon
Tuesday 21st - Thursday 23rd
September

BB1036 :
The Nine Standards
or The Battle Of Birkett Hills
Thursday 30th September

BB1037 :
This Is The Way
The Wainwrights End
Thursday 7th October

BB1038 :
A Return To Sanity?
Thursday 14th October

BB1039 :
A Succession of Scars
Thursday 21st October

BB1040 :
Three Old Men Of Lochnagar
Monday 25th - Friday 29th October

BB1041 :
A Whinash Winterscleugh Wander
Wednesday 10th November

BB1042 :
The Rusland Round
Thursday 18th November

BB1043 :
The Lion, The Lamb and
The Howitzer
Thursday 25th November

BB1044 :
Down Memory Lane
Thursday 2nd December

BB1045 :
A Cold Comes Out
Thursday 9th December

BSB2010 :
BOOTSKIboys in Zillertal
Saturday 30th January
to Saturday 6th February

Click on the photos
for an enlargement
or related large picture.

Wainwrights

To see which Wainwright top was visited on which
BB outing see Which Wainwright When?.

To download a log of heights and miles and which Wainwrights have been done by which BOOTboy in the "modern" era, i.e. since the advent of BOOTboys
click on BB Log.