society/inaugural_meeting

Alfred Wainwright will always be remembered for his Pictorial Guides To The Lakeland Fells, works of art, and the definitive guidebooks for walking in Lakeland's high places.

The OFC's photographic account of the day

Writer's steps re-traced - BBC News article

For details on how to join The Wainwright Society please click here.

Inaugural Meeting Of
The Wainwright Society
Ambleside Youth Hostel, Saturday 9th November 2002.

In the Chair - Eric Robson
98 person attending
140 Persons, expressed interest but not able to come.

The Chairman, introducing himself, welcomed those attending this historic first meeting and commented on the 'full house'. In explaining a little of the background, he praised the vision and persistence of John Burland whose idea to create a suitable memorial to AW, by forming this society, this was.

The chairman had spoken with Betty Wainwright, who supported fully the idea of a Wainwright Society, but that she was unable to attend this meeting and sent her best wishes.

Agenda Item 1 - Do we want to form a Wainwright Society?
The chairman observed that, in view of the numbers attending, the answer to this question must be 'Yes', and then by popular acclamation this was agreed. (We did not formally agree the name, but I presume, by default we should use 'The Wainwright Society', although when we come to register the name as a company limited by guarantee/register with Charities Commissioners there may just be one of the same name!).

Agenda Item 2 - What will be the aims of this Society?
The Chairman, in introducing this item, explained that list of aims would be need to be thought through most carefully and should reflect the views of the members. He felt that the primary aim was:

• To keep alive the things which AW promoted through the guidebooks, started 50 years ago, and the many other publications which were the 'labour of love' of a large portion of his life.

Other items were proposed from the body of the meeting:

• To encourage one another through the benefits of association with people sharing common interests.
• To keep faith with AW's vision of introducing a wider audience to fell walking and caring for the hills.
• To form a positive and meaningful 'Lobby' to influence the various non-commercial (National Trust & National Park etc.) and commercial organisations operating in the Lake District.

Additionally there were many suggestions, which whilst not truly being 'Aims' were proposed by the meeting and these will be added to, as time passes. Those suggested included:

• The development of and production of a journal.
• Facilities for access to the Archive.
• Transport connections and facilities for walkers, who would prefer not to use their own transport in areas, not provided with adequate parking. Also to examine the possibility of the purchase of a minibus.
• Development of educational resources for both young and old.
• Whilst not attempting to change the existing seven Pictorial Guides, to update the content, where significant change had occurred, and to publish this to members.
• To push to get those books currently out of print, reprinted.
• Lobby for access to walks and parts of walks not now available, through path closures etc.
• To maintain the 'Wainwright' register kept currently by the Long Distance Walkers Association.
• Persuade Penguin to insert a 'flyer', in the books of the Wainwright series, promulgating the Society.
• The introduction of a Wainwright page in Cumbria.
• The development of a programme of events, including, possibly a Wainwright week, to be held each year in different locations connected with AW.
• Practical contributions to the environment.

Agenda Item 3 - Election of Officers.
The following officers were proposed, from the chair and the appointments were unanimously agreed. All those proposed and appointed had agreed to stand.

1. Chairman - Eric Robson
2. Secretary - Peter Linney
3. Membership Secretary - Morag Clement
4. Treasurer - Phillip Hull (subsequently replaced by John Pulford)
5. Press and Publicity - John Burland
6. Webmaster - Robert Jackson
7. Life President - Betty Wainwright
8. Patron - Hunter Davies

The formal business being concluded the Chairman thanked all present for their contributions and the YHA for the use of their premises, suggesting the each attendee should donate 20p towards their costs.

The meeting closed before 11 am and many left for the 'anniversary walk' to Dove Crag