FEATURES

Bob Scott's lives on

by Irvine Butterfield

There was scarce a flutter in the fronds of the familiar pines at the turn across the Lui. It was one of those days for the high tops and many passed me by on their mountain bikes. But my thoughts were elsewhere as I plodded on, ears alert for the steady beat of hammer on wood. Not for me Macdui or the heights above the Derry or the Dee for today I was in search of “the lads frae Aberdeen”, better known collectively as the “Friend's of Bob Scott's”.

It seemed inordinately quiet as I turned off the track in search of the riverside glade where the Derry meets the Lui. But they were all there in full force drilling the wall heads in preparation for the erection of the timber framed upper walls. But there is more to their story than the construction itself. It was well and truly into the unknown that night they sat in “The Blue Lamp” in Aberdeen, resolved to re-erect Bob Scott's bothy, which unfortunately had been destroyed by fire. There would be a lot of money to raise, the National Trust Estate management to convince it was worthwhile rebuilding and retaining a bothy on that site, and the actual logistics of getting materials into place and the people to muster for the actual building work.

The first support came from well known Deeside artist, Sheila Ferres, who hearing of the intention to re-erect Bob Scott's bothy, offered her services to paint a picture of the structure lately lost. This, reproduced as a limited edition of prints and cards, helped to raise about £1000 and the stage was set for further fund-raising enterprise. Scale models of the bothy, in the guise of collecting boxes, produced by joiner Kenny Freeman were initially placed in the climbing shops of Tiso, Craigdon and Nevisport in Aberdeen and immediately indicated that support would be forthcoming from fellow mountaineers. Another local box surprisingly attracted so much support that it raised over £200 in the first fortnight. Demand for further boxes was such that another seven were made, of which three were placed locally in Braemar, the community having expressed a wish to become involved in the attempts to keep the memory of Scott and his bothy alive. Thus, haunts of mountain stravaigers, the Fife Arms, the Mountain Sports shop, and the Hungry Highlander chippy were soon reporting a very positive response with more funds to add to the growing coffers. A sponsored cycle run added further pounds and pennies to the appeal.

Word of the intended project was obviously going the rounds and it wasn't long before an approach was made by those who had from time to time lodged within the bothy walls. One of the first of these initiatives came from Richard Scott, representing the friends of James Leneghan. They had collected funds towards a suitable memorial to their companion who had sadly been killed in a glissading accident in the Alps two years before. They fully understood that as the original bothy had been a memorial to Bob Scott and that as a replacement the new bothy would be similarly dedicated. This proved no deterrent and they expressed themselves happy to add their support with a donation in the order of £2000 to help replace a specific part of the structure. In the end they settled upon the provision of the best sheep's wool insulation to ensure that others would enjoy a fine snod comfort as once their friend had done. Another climber who had used the old bothy, Eddie Balfour, fortuitously happened to be manager of James Jones and Sons at the sawmill of Dinnet and was minded to offer goods in kind by providing “off the saw” wood to construct the wooden frame of the upper walls and roof. Having been involved with such projects as the refurbishment of Corrour bothy after the war, and the building of the Hutchison Memorial Hut, the Ewan family, now into a fifth generation long associated with Cairngorm projects, maintained a family tradition by contributing the material and making the windows. Offers of blocks, sand and cement were forthcoming from another local businessman, Bert MacIntosh of Echt.

Scale drawings and a scale model were produced, with a complete plan of action for the construction work set out for presentation to Alister Clunas and the National Trust for Scotland Estate management at Mar Lodge. This attention to detail, and the bothy builders intimate knowledge of the area and the environmental issues of concern to the estate, together with a willingness to clear the site of debris, were almost certainly factors which impacted upon the judgements to be made and were sufficient to sway the National Trust representatives in making a positive response to the rebuilding request. In support Neil Stewart of the local planning authority had received correspondence suggesting that Bob Scott's was significant in heritage terms and that it was deemed appropriate to replace “an existing structure which had national mountaineering traditions attached to it”. But there was still a sting in the tail - the vexed question of public liability and accident insurance, a necessary requirement before work could commence. This not only required additional funding but raised the question that the “Friends of Bob Scott's” were not a constituted body. Back to the drawing board - more meetings, and discussion to produce a constitution, and formally elect chairman, secretary and treasurer. Again help was at hand with the further finance on offer from the friends of James Leneghan, and the Mountain Bothies Association. The project was back on stream.

With money still coming in from a variety of sources “The Friends” felt confident enough to make a start on the prefabrication of the upper walls. Here Kenny Freeman's garage was pressed into service and he recalls that the whole upper structure was assembled in the garden to check the accuracy of the measurements and that everything fitted into place. Roof trusses were consigned to the garage awaiting transport. Again a local company came forward - Wellheads Electrical in Aberdeen offering the use of a small truck to transport the materials to site and, more generously still, willing to allow use throughout the whole of the project's weekend work parties.

First materials on site were the foundation and lower wall blocks, with the sand and cement. National Trust staff were minded to lend a hand and assisted in the removal of the rubble of the old bothy so that from the outset the project was able to operate on a clear site. Neil Findlay and his fellow firemen from Aberdeen got off to a cracking start, so much so that the work was completed a week ahead of schedule. When the prefabricated sections of the upper wall were fitted, the foundations and the timbers were a perfect fit. At which point the team, much encouraged, were able to push ahead and get the roof timbers into position earlier than planned. At this stage in most bothy projects there is a feeling that the job is almost done. But there was still much to do - outside wall rendering, painting, window fitting, and internal fitments being no small consideration. As a fitting tribute to their endeavours , the final piece de resistance had to be an offer from local resident Gordon Meldum who donated and installed a magnificent stove. There would now appear to be very many more “Friends of Bob Scott's” than the band who first set out to rebuilt the bothy. This project in the end became very much a community effort. The goodwill generated must surely auger well for the future care of that part of the Cairngorms. The stravaigers, bothy builders, mountaineers, conservationists, and the folks from the glens of Aberdeenshire have given an object lesson in just what can be done through encouragement of voluntary effort. Lang may Bob Scott's lum reek.

Postscript
It is understood that even with the generous donations of materials received “The Friends of Bob Scott's” needed to raise some £9000 to ensure completion of the project. Obviously the story does not end here for use of the bothy will require future maintenance for which funds will need to be found.

If you would like to support their future work contributions, not matter how great or small (make donations payable to 'The Friends of Bob Scott's') should be sent to:
Ronnie Robb, 56 Thornygrove Avenue, Aberdeen AB15 7XR