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NORTHUMBRIA BACKPACKERS
The web site of the
Northumbrian members of the Backpackers Club |
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The
Backpackers Club 35th Year
"backpacking for everyone" celebration & AGM
Incorporating the
tgo
Ultralight Fest. April 27 - 29 2007.
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YOU WERE MAGNIFICENT! |
CLICK HERE
FOR PHOTO ALBUM |
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The travelling
members of Backpackers Club, the Traders and the Organisations
closely connected to the backpacking culture have put the little
Northumbrian town of Bellingham on the outdoor map forever. The
"Passionate about backpacking" people came to town and left the
place dry of beer, bacon and quite breathless that so many
people would come so far to pitch their tents on a little field
alongside the Pennine Way. Demesne Farm camping site was home to
the biggest - and many say, the very best - agm weekend ever
held by the Backpackers Club. |
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Desesne Farm,
Bellingham (Photo: Peter Lumley) |
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The Town Hall and
outdoors at Demesne Farm was the platform for the TGO Ultralight Fest, a
bonanza of activity that saw new backpacking gear snapped up to leave
shelves empty but visitors' heads full of new ideas, new product and
brand names that can't always be found in stores around the country.
Thank you - every one of you - for making this 35th birthday celebration
of the Club such a resounding success. But trust us, we knew all along
visitors would be enchanted by the countryside and impressed by the
friendliness of the local people. Bellingham people took us to their
hearts with a kindness and courtesy that is not so commonplace today.
Alan Crowe, Backpackers Club secretary was one of the people camped
among the twenty or so Members at Demesne Farm two days ahead of the
main event.
"I have never seen this number pitched so early" he said. Come Friday
evening he was even more pleased at the turnout, and on Saturday
reported the year of activity to a membership gathering that was far
ahead of expectations. |
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Northumbrian
Backpackers, who staged the Bellingham event, were given the
magical touch from One North East, the regional development
agency for our part of the world, and that support changed the
group's plans to the distinct advantage of visitors and Members
alike. "The support from One North East gave us an element of
dignity tinged with the authority that we were the voice of
backpacking on this patch" says Bryan Crick, the Northumberland
and Tyne & Wear Liaison officer for Backpackers Club.
Just in case the weather would turn against Members in
backpacking sized tents, the big HQ Dome tent from that Vango
was a campsite feature. Come the end of the weekend Vango
donated the HQ tent to the Northumberland Search & Rescue Team -
surely one of the most generous acts of the weekend and one far
ahead of the Rescue squad's hopes. |
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Members
set off to enjoy the area (Photo:Peter Lumley) |
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Backpackers Club, as at
every other agm they hold, also raided their coffers to donate to worthy
causes. The Bellingham Town Hall Fund and Northumberland Air Ambulance
each receive £250.
Taking the "Passionate about backpacking" slogan to the outdoor Trade,
and having the 35th year celebration theme to enhance the message,
helped Northumbrian Backpackers gain enhanced support for Members over
the weekend.
That brought Burton McCall to donate us 35 Victorinox Climber knives we
could give to 35 Lucky Draw Members to celebrate the 35 years of
Backpackers Club. The celebratory Buff, with the Club symbol and the
Bellingham dating is surely something to wear with pride, it's a pretty
useful and versatile bit of kit into the bargain, too. First Choice
Expedition Foods came to let visitors sample their tasties.
Our last words for the time being - "Members, Traders, Supporters, the
Town of Bellingham - you were magnificent, we just wish we could have
done a little more for you all over the weekend. For you visitors from
out of our region, come back to the North East of England as often as
you can manage, we're all Passionate People and we've got a lot more to
offer so we'll do our very best to help you enjoy. |
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The Northumbrian
Backpackers - Passionate in helping you. |
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For more info on what went on please
click here |
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CLICK HERE
FOR PHOTO ALBUM |
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