Dear Supporter

The Old man of Hoy (www.orkney-seastacks.co.uk/oldman.htm) is on every rock climber’s ‘bucket list’ and the remoteness and the stark challenge it presents makes it a great challenge....even to the best. It is all that’s left of an arch of sandstone that stretched out from the headland of the little Isle of Hoy in the Orkneys. It is of friable sandstone, windswept and, in warm weather, a haven for pestilential midges.

I am not one of the best climbers but have the ability to conquer it and a few good reasons to take it on:

Firstly, I promised the widow of a great pal of mine Bob Hawkes, who died last year, that I would climb it in his honour.

Secondly, Old Ben 9461, a small lodge with only 30 something members, many of whom have multiple memberships has a tough challenge to achieve its 2019 Festival target. Perhaps a Province-wide appeal to sponsor me might assist our Charity Steward.

Thirdly, I’m 70 and don’t see why I shouldn’t!

When I climb it is impossible to define as the weather is hardly predictable in Shrewsbury let alone Hoy! Hopefully May but possibly late September 2017. Those b****y midges might not be too evident.

Phil