2022 BIG WEEKEND
Stan Abbott , Chair and Big Weekend Organiser , looks back on a successful event …
And so to Grange-over-Sands – the “ accidental ” venue of October ’ s Big Weekend . Accidental , because this venue had �irst been booked to stage our 2020 event when it became clear that we needed a larger venue than Malham Tarn if we were to comply with the tightening regulations around social distancing .
Ah , COVID regulations – we can almost begin to feel nostalgic for them in a world of war , hyper-in�lation and governmental chaos and incompetence . Of course , in the event , we ended up with no Big Weekend at all in 2021 as rules tightened further , leaving us with two Big Weekends booked – one at the Malham Field Studies Council centre and one at Grange .
The passage of two years since our original introduction to Grange did raise a few organisational issues but , against many of the odds , our Big Weekend was smiled upon favourably by the weather gods and members and guests were able to enjoy a range of activities to get a feel for this special part of the world on the edge of the vastness of Morecambe Bay .
With tidal conditions and seasonality unfavourable to the idea of walk across the sands of the Bay , we did the next best thing by sharing time with Michael Wilson , local �isherman and now King ’ s Guide to the Sands and his partner , Joanne . I also very much enjoyed hosting our Golden Eagle winner , Nick Owen , and Alison and learning more about the mountain rescue volunteers , who are so close to the hearts of our members ( indeed , we can count such volunteers among our own membership ).
It was great too to host the family of the late Kev Reynolds , a muchmissed member of the OWPG family , and to hear how they intend to honour his proli�ic legacy by working with Cicerone to keep his guide books up to date . Indeed , thanks as ever to Joe Williams and the Cicerone team for sponsoring our annual dinner and for ongoing support in so many ways .
The positive feedback I have had tells me that David Bellamy ’ s landscape class was especially enjoyed , as was Nori Jemil ’ s Photography for Writers . Neighbouring Hampsfell was comfortably conquered , revealing the panorama of Morecambe Bay , while I was pleased to share an exploration of Neolithic and Bronze Age Furness , including a �ine view across the Bay from the small but perfectly formed stone circle at Birkrigg .
The book table was well received , and your committee has endorsed the idea of extending this next year to include the opportunity for members to share their recent work of all kinds .
This was my valedictory Big Weekend as organiser , it being fully �ive years since my hand de�ied my brain by rising at the 2018 AGM at Newlands to agree to take on the organisation of our annual gettogether . My �irst act was to rename the AGM as the Big Weekend , with
8 outdoor focus / winter 2022