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The Annual General
Meeting of the Backpackers Club took place in the church hall in
Appletreewick near Ilkley on Saturday 12th May 2001. The Backpackers Club
has now been in existence for twenty nine years.
The meeting was well attended with about 85 members attending from as far
away as Kent and Gloucester. The weather was sunny all weekend and the AGM
gave a lot a of people their first opportunity to get away since the start
of the foot and mouth crisis. Some groups of people were gong on to
Scotland
during the week after the AGM.
Cameron McNeish the well known broadcaster, journalist and walker opened
the meeting by pointing out that the walking community had shown great
restraint in staying off the hills during the current foot and mouth
crisis. This had highlighted the importance of visitors to the countryside
and our major contribution
to the rural economies. Following the business part of the AGM there was a
contributory meal.
In the evening, in Ilkley, Cameron McNeish and Chris Townsend gave talks
about their recent exploits. This was an event that was open to the public
and attracted about 50 people from outside the club; six expressed an
interest in joining the Backpackers Club.
Originally, it had been planned to have the AGM at a site nearer Ilkley,
but this had been changed because of the foot and mouth crisis. The
weather was perfect and it was agreed to have the AGM in the same venue
next year. The local footpaths still had access restrictions due to the
foot and mouth. (Jonathan Lane) |
