As I have previously said I never viewed acting as Guidebook Secretary as a long term role, amongst other things it needs a younger person to push the next series forwards and take up the new publishing opportunities that digital offers. Hence I’d like to stand down at the next AGM and have drafted a ‘Situations Vacant Advert’ for the next Chronicle to go beside Stephen’s one for Guidebooks Editor. That doesn’t mean that I won’t continue to contribute and support the team, in particular I want to see Lakes Sport & Slate to completion. However, after many years of volunteering for CC, Wayfarers and now BMC Clubs’ committee and FRCC I need a bit of a rest and time to get back on the crags now I have been upgraded! I know we are very unlikely to get someone who has knowledge of guidebook publishing and please be assured that I will do all I can to support my successor not only during the transition period but thereafter, they won’t be dropped in at the deep end! Having been both a guidebook editor and secretary my feeling is it will be easier to get a new secretary than a new editor.

Guidebooks Secretary
The club is looking for a volunteer to take over the role of Guidebooks Secretary. When I stepped into the role in early 2025 it was always my intention that it would be a short stay in the position to help reorganise our guidebooks operation as we look to start a new series of books and explore digital options. By the time of the next AGM all of the pieces of the jigsaw should be in place and it is an opportune moment for a new and younger member to step into the role and help take our publishing forwards. There are two essential requirements for the post holder: they should have a love of Lakes climbing (grade irrelevant!) and a strong desire to keep the details of our amazing climbs available to the public in some format, be it in traditional print guidebooks or by digital means. From my perspective the ideal situation would be for a volunteer to shadow the role over this year and ease themselves into it by the next AGM. You don’t need to have experience of guidebook production as we have plenty of people with ‘the knowledge’ and you will soon pick up the key points, please rest assured that there will be plenty of ongoing support.

So what does it entail? This is the role description:

Guidebooks Secretary: The point of contact for all matters relating to FRCC Guides or Apps. They should respond to all reasonable queries in a timely and professional manner. Keep an overview of all activities, identifying challenges and opportunities, proposing any appropriate actions. Service the administrative needs of the sub-committee. Represent GBSC at Main Committee meetings. Work closely with the Guidebooks Editor and support the work of the other team members.

In terms of meetings it is an elected committee position so the post-holder attends four committee meetings per year (November, February, May and September). The GB Secretary provides a report of Guidebook activities to each meeting and a short annual report for the AGM papers. In terms of sub-committee meetings there is always a main meeting each November (the same weekend as the November committee meeting) plus one in the spring, otherwise any necessary meetings involve smaller groups, eg guidebook teams, and are often held by Zoom.

If you would like to discuss the role in more detail please contact me at guidebooks@frcc.co.uk or, better still, phone me on 07795 569 414.

Trevor Langhorne
Guidebooks Secretary