Just a quick reminder that it’s the ARCC AGM this coming Saturday 20th November at 1pm in the chapel at Bishop’s Scale, followed by a mass for the deceased, and then a Jacob’s Join meal.
Given that this will be a larger gathering of members than has happened for a while, please help to keep  everyone safe by doing a lateral flow test if you are planning to attend. 
We will make sure that the chapel is well ventilated so wrap up warm, and obviously this is optional but please consider using a face covering.

Pauline asked us to let members know:

Mike’s funeral service is on 5^th November (that would make him smile, as an ex-fire fighter) at 11am. It is at Overdale Crematorium, Chorley New Road, Bolton. It will be followed by a wake at The Bridge Pub in Horwich at 12 noon. The service will be livestreamed for those who want to be there but can’t. Contact Bolton Funeral Care on 01204-307151 for the weblink. For those who want to say goodbye to Mike, he is in the chapel of ease at Bolton Funeral Care, Crompton Way, Bolton and people can visit by appointment.

UPDATE THURSDAY 28th OCTOBER

The OMM has been cancelled due to the weather. Bishop’s Scale is now available to members as normal over this weekend.

Reminder to all members….. Bishops Scale is not open to members from Thursday 28th Oct UNTIL Monday 1st November. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. This is because it is being used by the OMM (Original Mountain Marathon).

The club is now pleased that our Welsh hut can also be opened on an unrestricted basis and without the need to book following the recent relaxation of covid guidelines in Wales.

The family quarters at Bishop’s Scale now has a new roof and this facillity is once again open.

All members should note that Bishop’s Scale main hut is not available for use from Thursday 28th October 2021 until Monday 1st November 2021.

A copy of an email sent to members which includes all of the above can be viewed here.

Following the government’s relaxation of Covid restrictions on 19th July 2021 the Club is now in a position to allow unrestricted use of its huts in England. This does not yet apply to Tyn Twr. A copy of the ARCC Covid risk assessment for hut usage after 19th July 2021 can be viewed here. All those who plan to visit Bishop’s Scale or LGH are asked to read these documents and take note of their contents.

ARCC would like to offer its congratulations to Kirsty Hewitson who completed the 26 Lake, Meres and Waters challenge on 4th and 5th June 2021. Kirsty completed the course in 30 hours 10 minutes which is a new Ladies Record. An account of Kirsty’s successful attempt can be found here.

Peter Henery has kindly written an article about Geoff Cross, who died on 1st April

Congratulations to Josie Greenhalgh of Lostock AC on completing the 26 Lake, Meres and Waters in a time of 33 hours 39 minutes on Sunday 30th August 2020! She’s the 10th to complete this tough challenge and has set a new Ladies record! (Thanks to Chris Usher for the picture)

I am very sorry to announce that, having given much thought to the situation, the Management Committee now believe that the Club is left with no choice but to close all three huts with immediate effect.  
Since my correspondence to members several days ago it has come to light that other clubs, including the Fell and Rock and the Climbers Club, have already taken this action.
We are becoming more aware of the dangers of this virus, the ease with which it is transferred from one individual to another and the devastating outcome it can have for some.  We believe that keeping the huts open would contravene government advice to avoid any non essential social interactions, with the chance that the Club could find itself in a very difficult position if someone were to become ill as a result of staying at one of its huts.  
The Management Committee therefore asks that all members of the ARCC do not attend Bishop’s Scale, Little Ground House or Tyn Twr until government guidelines change.
I hope that all ARCC members stay healthy during this very difficult time and l look forward to resuming Club activities as soon as it is reasonably possible.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if any member has any queries about this notice.  
Chris Lloyd ARCC Chairman

Unfortunately, given the most recent government guidelines, I have to inform members that for the foreseeable all Achille Ratti meets will be cancelled.  As a consequence, the Bishop’s Scale maintenance meet and all following meets will not take place until a further announcement is made.  This will certainly include the Dungheon Ghyll fell race which was scheduled to take place on the 4th April and is very likely to include the Old County Tops which is scheduled to take place on 16th May.  I won’t make the final announcement in relation to the Old County Tops for another couple of weeks but the chances of it going ahead are looking slim.
For the time being the huts will remain open and available for members to use, but members do so at their own risk and should be aware of the current government advice which is to discourage any non-essential social interaction.  
Please do NOT use the huts if you display any of the publicised coronavirus symptoms and if you do go to a hut please take extra precautions regarding hygiene and cleanliness by, for example, regularly wiping down contact/work surfaces and washing hands frequently.  
A further notice to members will be sent if the situation changes in a way that further impacts the Club. 
This notice will also go on the facebook page and website, but if you know of a member who does not have email please let them know.  
I wish all members well during this very difficult period.
Chris Lloyd, ARCC Chairman