Ben Moon, Leo Houlding & Chris Bonington hit no.10.
A cross-section of the British climbing community rocked up at Downing Street on 8 October, disguised as smartly dressed people, to attend the government’s reception for the BMC in celebration of British Mountaineering. At 5.30pm they trekked through security, resisted the urge to climb up the scaffolding, and entered through the famous No 10 door.
Upstairs, the BMC was given the run of several grand rooms for drinks and canapés before the business of speeches got underway. Around 120 guests enjoyed mingling with MPs, Sport England representatives and each other. Unfortunately the Prime Minister wasn’t able to attend as his diary had been wiped clean to focus all attention on his own mountain to climb - the current economic situation. Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe stood in to host the evening.
BMC President Dr Charles Clarke kicked off the proceedings by thanking John Mann MP for orchestrating the event which had come about because of Gordon Brown’s interest in hill walking. He acknowledged the history and achievements of British mountaineering, as well as the BMC’s lobbying work and importance of the BMC’s 500-strong volunteers.
Next up was Leo Houlding, whose emotive speech couldn’t have failed to show the Sports Minister just what makes climbers a special group and how mountaineering - in all its aspects - touches individual lives in a way that other sports can’t. Leo spoke about how he got into climbing and said that the explosion in the number of climbing walls is making it even more accessible for young people to get involved. He spoke of the cut in grants for expeditions which is sorely missed and drummed home that climbers are a frugal bunch and a little money goes a long way in the good that it can do.
Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe highlighted what a coup it was for the BMC to have landed this event and welcomed the challenges ahead. He acknowledged the role climbing, hill walking and mountaineering plays in contributing to a fit and active nation. He mentioned that a climbing wall which had been put into a school in his constituency is now one of the most used of the sporting facilities. He also paid tribute to the leading mountaineers and their achievements.
These receptions tend to only happen for sporting teams returning from international successes so this event celebrated the culmination of mountaineering achievements over the years and showed how far the BMC has come in being recognised within government.
All too soon it was 7pm and time for the reception to end. After the dizzy heights of the evening, we descended the stairs, walked out of the No 10 door and back to the delights of the great outdoors.
The BMC would like to thank the Prime Minister for inviting the BMC to Downing Street, Gerry Sutcliffe for hosting the event, John Mann MP for his continued help in forging links with government and helping the BMC get its voice heard in government and everyone else who attended.
Let's see if mingling with ministers results in more money for mountaineering.
Read more at UKClimbing.com, the DMM website, SnowdoniaActive, Trail and Grough.co.uk.