Fell & Rock Climbing Club

In Reminiscences Part 1 1902 to 1909 by Ernest Edward Roberts, Yorkshire Ramblers\’ Club Journal Volume 9 Number 30 (1960): pp73-81. http://www.yrc.org.uk/yrcweb/index.php/journal/vols6-11/84-vol9-cat/no30/544-v9n30p73 “My first day at Wasdale was New Year, 1902, and with three or four exceptions every New Year before the first war saw me there. In the summer I met that wonderful couple, Frank Payne and his wife. Payne had made an unsuccessful attack on the Teufelsgrat just before Mummery and had done some caving near Geneva. Full of the joy of life he was a most interesting talker and the inspirer and leader of novel expeditions. I also met the Reverend W. F. Wright who led us up the great pitch of\’ B \’ Chimney on Pikes Crag when it was sheeted with ice, the most incredible feat I have ever seen. Unhappily he was killed on the Grand Paradis with Merrion and others.”  William Frederick Wright died in 1904 so B Gully must have been climbed in the winter of 1902/3 or 1903/4. My money would be on the former as this is when Wright and Meryon were also on the eventful first winter ascent of New West.  There are no date for B Gully or first ascent details in the current winter guide, so I suggest something like: 1902 – 1904 B Gully, Pike’s Crag WF Wright, EE Roberts and party. I hesitate to include the Payne’s as I don’t think it is clear from what Roberts wrote that the Paynes were part of the “us”.