BIVVI TALK
Memorial Cairns
Dear Readers
I am Bill Stuart's sister aged 70 and would like to give Glyn Jones a brief history of Billy's life, as I remember it, up until that terrible Sunday 16/8/53. I am doing this because of his comment about my brother's Stone "it would take 5mins with a sledge-hammer to knock it down" - this comment has awakened sad memories for his Family and especially Chesty (Jim) Bruce, also great anger.
Billy was one of five children, he attended Broomhill School - from there he won a Bursary to Robert Gordon's College (our Father and two other brothers went there on Bursaries) from there he went into the Army to do his National Service - after training he was posted to Germany - when demobbed he came home and went to work in the office of C.P.T. at Tullos - he also sat a Civil Service Exam and came out top - then came the tragedy of his death - so who knows where he would have ended up?? He lived for Friday nights when he would be away up to Lochnagar and we would not see him until Sunday night around 10.30-11pm.
On that fateful Sunday our Mother was on edge all day and as time went on she was out on the pavement looking for him - we eventually saw a group of chaps outside George Clark's house (a fellow climber) 3 doors away - then we saw Chesty Bruce walking towards us and then he came in and told us what had happened.
By the way that photograph of Billy was taken on Lochnagar and he was in his climbing gear also as to his "Stone" that was done by his friends "The Climbing Community" and I am almost sure they got permission to erect it there and also for the Memorial Service and the scattering of his ashes at the top of the Gully he fell from; this was done by his brother Rev. John Stuart.Billy was not religious but someone told us he was heard to say "the higher you climb the nearer you get to God".
I also think Lochnagar has been desecrated - but not by my brother's Memorial - but by the roads cut into the hillsides, steps etc.also the inscription on the 'Stone' comes from the Poem/Song "Dark Lochnagar" by Lord Byron.
Mary Mulholland (nee Stuart)
Dear MCofS
Having re-read the views of everyone on the website, there would seem to be a common theme among them. If I can quote one posting: “True love of the hills is incompatible with plaques and monuments. I suspect that these are installed by relatives who do not have the same feelings towards the hills.”
Many people would appear to think that ‘true’ climbers and hill walkers abhor the idea of memorials on the hills, and that they think they are put there by people who ‘know nothing about mountains’ etc. If I can quote the late Tom Patey from his book ‘One Man's Mountains’, “It was a sad day for Lochnagar when, in August 1953, Bill Stuart fell to his death on Parallel Gully "B". Although his initial slip was a mere six feet, the rope sliced through on a sharp flake of rock and he fell all the way to the corrie floor. It was a cruel twist of fate to overtake such a brilliant young climber, and for many of the "faithful" it soured the love of the hills that they had shared with him. The numbers dwindled on the Saturday bus and the crags shed much of their glamour; the majority of the old brigade took to hill walking and ski-ing, where they could forget unhappy memories and still enjoy the camaraderie of the hills.”
It was some of the "faithful" old brigade who took turns to carry the memorial stone up Lochnagar. It would seem the camaraderie of the hills has been lost over the years.
I would be very interested to read Glyn Jones' views on his comments now, and would love to know what he imagines those people who erected the memorial think of him.
Mike Stuart
Dear MCofS
The subject of mountain memorials appears to have evoked considerable interest, with many of the general public also moved to express a point of view, which must be unique. Clearly scope exists for the advocacy of a clear policy which might find general acceptance and validity in the public mind. Listening to the various debates it soon becomes clear that the rash of memorials which have appeared in more recent times is such that their number is leading to a diminution, or rejection, of such. So much so that many of a more conservationist bent are coming to regard them as so much additional “litter on the landscape”. And to many, only those immediately involved can gain any real feeling for the expressions of grief thus writ in stone.
The classic example is without doubt the proliferation of tablets and cairns on the summit of Ben Nevis. Here, whilst advocating their removal, the John Muir Trust offers a solution - the building of a specific custom built memorial in Glen Nevis.
Given that the people remembered are celebrated for their love of the hills it would seem pertinent to ask what would their thoughts have been had they been asked to remember one of their friends. Rather than a purpose built memorial or some other such man made structure why not look to Nature herself for a solution?
One of the objects of the John Muir Trust is to encourage regeneration of the native woodlands in Glen Nevis and I would suggest that it might be possible to link the two ideas by setting aside an area dedicated to woodland restoration in which the ashes, or even the remains, of the deceased mountaineer, or lover of the hills, might be placed to begin the promotion of a larger woodland scheme. As the idea grew so would the woodland, to provide a collective memorial. The departed thus celebrated would surely rejoice to think that the memories of their love of the hills and glens was appropriately contributing to the sustainable life of the landscape.
Given that such an idea might find acceptance the idea could be adopted in other locations and by other organisations. This thought leads me to think of Skye. Here we have a proposal which seems to sit at odds with that advocated for Ben Nevis and yet is under the care of the same organisation: a suggestion of a memorial erected in a wild landscape to celebrate a native of Skye, John MacKenzie, who was companion, and friend, to Professor Norman Collie in the pioneering days of mountain exploration in the Cuillin. Again we have a group of people who wish to celebrate one of their own and again seek to express their respect by the erection of a memorial. Laudable though this sentiment may be, examination of the future consequences might suggest a more cautious approach.
What will become of such a memorial in future years? The words of Gray’s Elegy in a Country Churchyard spring to mind - “can storied urn or animated bust back to its mansion call the fleeting breath”. In our desire to celebrate a lost companion or loved one is there not an attempt to keep them alive, if only through memory, the memorial itself being a tangible and visible expression of OUR thoughts? Does this not say as much about ourselves as the friend we seek to celebrate? The case of Collie and MacKenzie must surely rank as one of the finest examples of a memorial as is to be found in all Scotland when it is remembered that mountains in the Cuillin were named after them - surely no statue or man made memorial could ever compete. Here again Nature provided an answer to those who sought to recognise their friend. No longer is it possible in Scotland to name a mountain in such fashion but for all who truly love and respect both friend and nature, lovers of the hills and glens might again look to the natural world for a solution. I can think of no finer tribute than to let the mountains speak.
Irvine Butterfield
Funicular Questions
Dear MCofS
Last summer I was asked to answer questions to a survey three times while returning to Corrie Cas car park. On the third occasion I noticed the person was wearing a ‘Cairngorm Mountain’ employee’s badge. On no occasion was I informed of the purpose of the survey or who it was being conducted for. The questions required ‘yes’ or ‘no’ responses, centred around access to the hills and the use of the Funicular, leading to the final question—whether or not I would like to be able to get out at the top station.
At no point was I given information as to why there was a closed system, nor room to qualify any answers given. The issues surrounding the closed system are complex and cannot be reduced to a simple wish for easier access.
This survey is aimed at walkers, I am not aware if a similar one is being aimed at passengers in the train itself.
I am aware that the company in question are making application to have the closed system removed and in light of this I would like to draw your attention to this survey, as I do not regard it as an unbiased piece of market research, nor its results truly representative of the section of the public being targeted.
Pat Hughes
Faces
Dear Editor
Saw the picture of the stone face in the recent issue, thought you may be interested to see this one. The stone has been laid in the path to Corrie Dubh in Torridon, would be interesting to find out who the path man was.
Gerry Knight