Woody once told me what got him started with rock climbing and mountaineering. One of his teachers saw that he was not looking at the designated page in a text book as instructed. Are we surprised?
Instead he had found pictures of welsh mountains and was entranced! The teacher fortuitously recognised the spark of interest and responded thoughtfully. Large oaks start out as small acorns!
The teacher then went on and arranged to meet Woody's mother to see if she would agree for Woody, then in his early teens, to go rock climbing under his supervision. This was agreed and Woody's love affair with the mountains then started in earnest!
It was this initial act of encouragement which opened the door to Woody's long involvement with RAF Mountain Rescue, then going on to work with disabled people as a rock climbing and outdoor activities instructor but also encouraging so many people to develop a love for climbing and the mountains.
It is to be noted that during Woody's own long mountaineering career he stood out from many others in the way he in turn gave encouragement to so many others to take the first steps on rock - albeit some may have as a result been 'gripped out of their trees'! (as Woody himself had a habit of saying).
I myself was privileged to have my first roped rock climbing experiences with Woody on the Roaches on an overcast autumn day in the mid 1980s.
At this initial stage it is so easy to get put off for life if the climb is too hard or if the situations are too exposed. But Woody got it just right for me and as a result I went on to climb throughout the UK but in particular climbing a large proportion of routes up to VS and severe in Derbyshire where I now live. I also went on to qualify as a single pitch climbing instructor.
I climbed with Woody in many places. Lots in Derbyshire. Shepherds Crag, Borrowdale. Lower Scout Crag, Langdale. The Cuilin on Skye. Taffs Quarry, South Wales. St Davids Head. And many more besides.
One time at St Davids, Woody's observation and quick thinking saved the life of a mutual friend.
Woody spotted that W. was about to abseil off a single anchor which had become unsafe. Without Woody's prompt action W. would have fallen 30 feet to the rocks below.
Woody also gave me a glowing and probably very over-generous reference as part of an application by me to be a walking and cross country ski leader with a company running holidays in the Alps and Norway. As a result I have had wonderful experiences as a cross country ski leader over the course of the last 30 years. Thank you Woody!
I first met Woody in Snowdonia. He arrived at the YHA campsite by. ............. . After introductions and a few pleasantries he said 'You don' t want to camp here. Too near the lake, risk of midges. Anyway its too far from the pub'!
Yes, Woody was a great companion and guide in the mountains but also during the evenings in the pubs he was a creator of conviviality, conversation, putting the world to rights and not least witty.
One Christmas time in a Loweswater pub Woody was asked if he could sing a cheerful jolly song (as opposed to the socialist songs about exploitation and imperialism which were his main repertoire).
His reply was 'You're in the north of England now! There' s nothing cheerful to sing about! '. Last night I watched a programme about the ‘Harrying of the North by William the Conqueror’. This brought back Woody’s comment to me.
As a friend Woody was equally generous. One time a group of us were due to meet up in Robin Hood’s Bay during the Whitby Folk Week. My car developed a fault the day before I was due to set off. There was no time to arrange a repair so I would have had to delay or cancel my holiday. Without hesitation Woody offered to loan me his Ford Escort even though this would have meant some inconvenience for him.
Of course it did take me well over an hour to restore the car to a standard suitable for a confirmed non-smoker (namely myself). But this in no way detracted from my appreciation of Woody's generousity.
Generousity is a word which can be associated with Woody on many occasions. Whilst in a pub near St David's he was moved by a farmer lamenting the fate of a sheep trapped on a ledge on a sea cliff. Woody offered to rescue the sheep as part of an RAF 'training exercise'. The sheep was successfully rescued but finding itself strapped to Woody (the winchman) and then being hauled upwards rapidly by the helicopter the sheep became very nervous - with a resulting and understandable deluge of a bowel motion – all over Woody!
The sheep and Woody were lowered successfully down into the centre of St Davids to a large crowd who gathered to witness the unusual spectacle - man and sheep strapped face to face whilst dangling below a helicopter - but I do believe there were many who held their noses and didn't get too close!
Woody later told me that his days of rescuing sheep were over as a result of that particular 'exercise'!
Sadly our paths diverged. I look back with great appreciation for all the encouragement Woody gave me and all the pleasure, excitement and fun I had in his company. I regret I did not do more to keep in contact with him. Friendship requires regular maintenance a bit like a car- but more so and more thoughtfully!
So I have to end by saying ‘I'm sorry, Woody. I wish have done more to keep in touch with you and treasure your friendship’.
‘And with great regret I left it too late to thank you for all the joy, adventure, humour, warmth and passion which you brought both to my life and to the lives of, yes, so many others’.
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