OTHER NEWS
CALL FOR MOUNTAINS OF FILMS
Outdoor enthusiasts encouraged to pack their camcorders as well as their compasses!
Scotland's premier mountain film festival is seeking new films to be screened at the festival this autumn. The 3rd Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival, which runs 21-23 October 2005, promises to be even bigger and better than in 2004, when over 1,500 outdoor enthusiasts marvelled at the exciting films, lectures and exhibitions.
Far from being a collection of stuffy mountaineering documentaries, the festival has quickly gained a reputation as an energetic and dynamic event which showcases high quality short films covering a wide range of activities in the mountains and wild places of the world. Festival Director Stevie Christie explains:
“The festival is essentially about adventure – whatever that means to you, and wherever you find it. We're always on the look out for films which are a little bit different. One of the most popular films we've screened was about a rock-climbing Jack Russell dog!”
“We receive a mixture of high-budget and home-made films. We've received many fantastic short films which were filmed and produced in Scotland or elsewhere in the UK by regular people who are out there doing their thing. In fact, both winners of the 'Best Film Award' have been low-budget, locally-made films.”
The festival is also organising a photography competition which is open to all. There are two categories for photos – “Cold But Happy” and “Hanging On”. Details can be found on the website. The closing date for entries for films and photos is 31 July 2005.
Details how to submit films and photographs can be found on the website at www.edinburghmountainff.com or by emailing Festival Director Stevie Christie at stevie@edinburghmountainff.com
The major sponsors of the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival 2005 are Tiso, Glenmore Lodge, and Wilderness Journeys. The festival is also sponsored by Mountain Equipment, the John Muir Trust, Climb Magazine, Pocket Mountains, Rucksack Readers and Extreme DV.
Special Discounts to MCofS Individual Members
Aktiv8 are a range of stores across the UK that currently stock most major brands such as Berghaus, Karrimor, Patagonia, Sprayway, Mountain Equipment and Lowe Alpine to name but a few. They also operate a website for internet sales and they are offering Individual Members of the MCofS a good choice of discounted goods.
- 10% discount in any store (see addresses below). Simply show your IM card and get the discount.
- 10% discount on any purchase online at www.aktive8.com (discount includes 10% off anything already reduced!). All members have to do is enter the code of MCS222 (all upper case) into the discount code box on the checkout page and you will automatically get an additional 10% discount off anything you have purchased online.
Aktive8 Edinburgh, 103 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9AN
Tel (0131) 2283003, Fax (0131) 2297507, Edinburgh@aktive8.co.uk
Aktive8 St Andrews (Trespass), 109a South Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9UH
Tel/Fax (01334) 473999, standrews@aktive8.co.uk
The Bike Chain (Edinburgh), 20 Rodney Street, Edinburgh EH7 4EA
Tel (0131) 5572801, edinburgh@thebikechain.co.uk
Aktive8 Grasmere, Red Lion Square, Grasmere, Cumbria LA22 9SP
Tel (01539) 435614, Fax (01539) 435330, grasmere@aktive8.co.uk
Aktive8 Brighton, 126/127 Queens Road, Brighton BN1 3WB
Tel (01273) 821554, Fax (01273) 821320, brighton@aktive8.co.uk
Climber Magazine
Discounted subscription for MCS members
The discounted yearly subscription rate to Climber magazine offered to MCofS members is £30 (a saving of £8.40 and you get it delivered to your door). If any member (Individual or Club) would like to take advantage of this special rate all they need to do is phone 01778 392 004 and quote their MCofS Individual Membership Number or the name of their affiliated club. The offer of a discounted rate is only on UK subscriptions and not to those resident overseas.
SYMPOSIUM: EXPEDITION MEDICINE
The RCPE are holding a seminar (for which they are inviting abstracts) on high altitude expedition medicine which may be of interest to any big mountain aficionados out there. The morning session will focus on the pathophysiology of exposure to high altitude and extreme cold, exploring our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and current recommendations. The key note lecture will be delivered by Dr Claudio Sartori, an international leader in the field of high altitude medicine. The afternoon sessions will concentrate on the practical aspects of Expedition Medicine with expert speakers on the management of bites, telemedicine and the role of the expedition doctor.
Finally, there will be an opportunity to compare and contrast the experiences of physicians working in two very different mountain environments, with presentations from Dr Brian Tregaskis, Consultant Physician, Belford Hospital, Fort William and Everest summitteer and North East General Practitioner, Dr Charlie Hornsby.
Further Details can be obtained from: To register for the symposium, access the full programme and registration form via: http://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events/expedition_med.html
Symposium Co-ordinator, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 9 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JQ. TEL: 0131 225 7324, FAX: 0131 220 4393, Email:h.olaez@rcpe.ac.uk.
Hostel Guides 2005
By Kevin Howett
Scottish Independent Hostels have again issued their 'Blue Hostel Guide' to 134 different hostels across Scotland for 2005-2006. From Edinburgh city to Shetland, there are numerous good quality SIH inspected and approved places to stay. Most are family owned and run providing budget accommodation in relaxed and friendly surroundings – something I can personally vouch for after a recent weeklong road trip to every corner of Scotland in search of dry rock. When it snowed and lashed with rain we were easily tempted away from the tent into the luxury of a few hostels without it breaking the bank balance.
For a free copy send an A5 sae to SIH Secretary, PO Box 7024, Fort William, PH33 6RE. Also see http://www.hostel-scotland.co.uk/
The 2005 edition of the Backpackers Press Guide to Hostels in Britain & Europe is available now. With up to date information and photos of over 300 places to stay including the Emerald Isle, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Italy, Greece and even Norway. This is an indispensable tome for anyone travelling in pursuit of their Peak or Climb.
Price: £4.94. Available in most outdoor shops and good bookstores or from The Backpackers Press, Speedwell House, Upperwood, Matlock, Bath, Derbyshire DE4 3PE. Tel: 01629 580 427. Web: www.independenthostelguide.co.uk
An Appreciation of David Cassidy
By work colleague and climber
Alison Coull
The news of David Cassidy's death in July 2004 at Polney Crag, near Dunkeld came as a terrible shock to his colleagues in the Scottish Executive. David was a highly respected and well liked member of staff who had worked in the Solicitor's office of the old Scottish Office and the Office of the Solicitor to the Scottish Executive for over fifteen years.
Throughout his career David was known as a person with considerable wisdom and his personnel file was littered with commendations from clients. A number of different people also benefited from his encouragement as a line manager. His involvement in legislation was particularly noteworthy. Latterly he was involved in work for the Justice Department including legislation to reform procedures in the High Court. His approach to his work and his colleagues had a generosity of spirit that is rare.
David often presented his arguments about legal issues with a great passion or what I referred to as a 'full and frank exchange of views' and he referred to as his 'Glasgow manner'.
David was also a delightful person to be with. He had his own distinctive sense of humour which came through in everything that he did. He also had reserves of energy beyond what should have been there for someone who commuted from Perth and who used to take bike to the office from various different points, sometimes as far as Inverkeithing. Other colleagues who commuted were used to seeing David overtake them at the Barnton roundabout, once causing a mini heart attack when he battered on the roof of a colleague's car as he whizzed past.
As well as cycling, David was also known in the office for his enthusiasm for climbing and running. He was a regular attendee at Alien Rock (the move of the office in 1996 to Victoria Quay in Leith being of particular benefit to him). David introduced a number of people in the office to climbing through lunchtime sessions.
On a personal note, he was largely responsible for encouraging me to broaden my horizons into climbing. He had a huge amount of knowledge about all matters related to climbing and its history and although he climbed himself to a very high standard, he was equally interested and enthusiastic in hearing about exploits on the classic diffs and v. diffs. In climbing as with work, he showed great patience. I have particularly good memories of a trip in June 2001 to the Cairngorms with my climbing partner and David to climb the classic Clean Sweep where that patience was put to good effect.
Following David's death a collection was organised and after discussion with David's wife Anne a sum of money was donated to Ninewells hospital's Trauma Team who raise money for buying extra equipment. These were the people who most helped David on the night of his accident.
In addition, David's colleagues felt that they would like, if possible, to institute something of a more lasting nature through which his memory celebrated. After discussion with Alien Rock a cup was donated for the winner of the veterans bouldering league, a competition that David had competed in a number of times. This cup was awarded for the first time in February 2005 to Gavin Swinton.
His climbing legacy resides is his new route Hunt the Gunman (E3), one the best climbs at one of his local crags, Craig na'Eighe, near Tullimet.
David's death was an irreplaceable loss in the Scottish Executive and we all miss him.
