Sedbergh Cumbria
August 2011
It will be no surprise to the cynical to learn that once again the Boys’ Brigade camped at Sedbergh Cumbria. We were blessed with good weather
whilst the canvas went up and given that we had many new and younger boys all went very smoothly and quickly and we were enjoying our first meal at
6pm Saturday with virtually everything up and running (the tents that is, not the aftermath of the meal).
It was good to have Fr Rob Western with us again for a said Mass on Sunday morning, but as the weather looked threatening we had the service in
the marquee and not in the field.
Our first walk was designed to see what our younger members were made of in terms of attitude coupled with a little stamina. There is nothing
like a 45 degree upward slope to sort the men from the Boys, indeed it was nothing like 45 degrees - more like 60 degrees. It did indeed sort
the men from the Boys as the Boys carried on and two of the men turned back ! (Guesses in a sealed envelope and a prize for the winner.)
I was aware of the odd cry of “We must be mad going up here” but as we are it didn’t really matter. The real shock and surprise to the younger
members was actually going into cloud. It had not occurred to many that some clouds are not all that far off the ground but this day they were at
1800ft and we ventured up to 2000ft. Happily as the day progressed the cloud went away and the sun came out and we came down the front of Winder
Hill sliding on coats and waterproofs on the steep grassy banks. I still have the bruise after hitting a hidden rock on the way down. It is known
as acting ones age!
Arriving back in camp the boys were in the river Rawthey before I got my boots off. That is what camp is all about, a rare ‘gloves off’ freedom
experience for cloistered over protected, youngsters who perhaps would not be able to do the things we do if organised by the Council. We have a
posse of eagle–eyed guardians who view from afar to see all are safe.
We ventured into Kendal to swim in the Baths there and do a bit of shopping, but it was clear that Kendal like other towns has got its fair
share of problems with shops closing down.
Wednesday saw us in Grizedale Forest South Lakeland to experience once more the terrors of the ‘Go Ape’. It is a rare treat, but not for
the feint-hearted or those suffering from angina, as the participants have to negotiate swinging foot-holds 40feet up in the air and slide on zip
wires for hundreds of feet at a time. It goes under the heading of ‘fun’. However it was well liked.
Our second walk took us on a route never before traversed in the Howgills which went through a deserted ruined farmstead known as ‘Mountain
View’. If there was a retirement project then this was it. I could fancy ‘doing it up’ as they say. The inscription on a corner stone of 1837
caused speculation as to what it meant. Was it the building date or Queen Victoria’s coronation year? However the walk ended with yet another
spectacular slide down steep grassy banks.
We were without our resident cook this year, Graham Leaver, who was duty bound to look after his wife Catherine who had surgery that week. We
were fortunate to secure the services of David Coss, who had cooked in the past, to help us out.
Our third walk up Coniston ‘Old Man’ 2,600 feet, was spectacular as we were blessed with clear skies but not too hot. The Boys by this time
were walking very well and the summit was soon reached with extensive views of the whole of Lakeland.
The Company has been in existence for over sixty years and many of our camps have been at Sedbergh (not all) and this year is the 125th year
that the Boys’ Brigade has been camping as an organisation. Prior to the BB, only vagrants and the military camped not civilians. Many will say
that it is the Scouts who started camping but they are wrong. The Scouts did not start until 1908. In order to celebrate these achievements we
commissioned a polished granite plaque to be made which records the events and which is fixed to the wall of the Barn at Beckside Farm where
we camp. The farmer, Tom Parkin was so thrilled that he did not charge us this year for the field.
The long evenings were filled with games, singing our own particular brand of camp songs, all PC, archery and target shooting, although we were
a little cautious about using the new 22 calibre air rifle with telescopic sight, inview of a lot of sheep in the back-ground. (If you would care
for a mutton leg let me know.)
The last day was a visit to Blackpool but their prices have gone through the roof and it is unlikely that we will go that far again for
that sort of entertainment.
It was just our luck that it rained for an hour in the early hours of Saturday which meant that the canvas would come home wet but it meant
that we set a record for taking every thing down in good time for our transport home.
My thanks to all the staff, old Boys, who come year on year to give of their long expertise and without which we would be struggling. To all
of our boys, who were excellent this year, which augers well for the future and our two fine guests from the 19th Nottingham Company
who readily joined in the fun.
To Mark Evans and the Marston’s Brewery, Nottinghamshire County Council and The Masonic Lodges of Nottinghamshire go our grateful thanks for
a really splendid camp.
John Irons
(Captain)