ROCK climber, Ron Fawcett, who grew up in Embsay, has released his book, Ron Fawcett - Rock Athlete, as an audiobook. Introduced to climbing while living in Craven, Ron, who now lives in Bradwell, Derbyshire, started off exploring the Embsay Crags and moors, and at 15 years old, he completed his first new route, Mulatto Wall at Malham Cove.

From here his career sky-rocketed, until in the 1980s he was pioneering climbs at home and abroad. He was also among the first to morph his talent into a career – appearing in the landmark television documentary, Rock Athlete, and featuring in magazines around the world. But he soon found the pressures of fame too much.

Co-written with award-winning author Ed Douglas, Rock Athlete is the extraordinary story of how Fawcett’s love of nature and the outdoors developed into a passion for climbing that took him to the top – and almost consumed him.

Commenting on the release of the audiobook, Ron said, ‘It’s almost ten years since Rock Athlete was first published in hardback and I am chuffed to see it published again this year as an audiobook. It was an incredible journey writing the book with Ed. With Rock Athlete, I wanted to go beyond just describing routes. I wanted to create a warts-and-all look into my life and relationship with climbing: from developing a love of the rocks during my childhood exploring the Embsay Crags and moors, to my struggles adapting to my status as a professional rock climber at the heart of the 80s limelight. I hope readers new and old will enjoy hearing my story read aloud for the first time.’

Ron Fawcett – Rock Athlete is available to purchase as an audiobook from Audible, Amazon and iTunes.

NEW members are urgently required if a North Yorkshire young farmers’ club is to be saved for future generations.

Lawkland YFC is down to just a few members and although it has just had seven join, it would like to see more joining up.

Sheila Mason, who joined the club 43 years ago and is the mother of the current chairman and secretary, can remember the days when the club had more than 60 members.

Her 20 year-old son James Thornton is the secretary and his sister, 18 year-old Georgia, is the chairman.

“They’ve switched jobs this year!” smiles Sheila, “All clubs go in cycles, with older members moving,” she said. “But numbers have never been as low as this before. It’s probably a combination of factors; rural areas like ours have changed with less young families and more holiday cottages and retired couples moving in. There’s probably just also a natural gap while former members who have started families wait for their children to be old enough to join.”

The young farmers’ movement is open to those aged from ten to 26; although with the club struggling it might be possible for those just under the age limit to start getting involved.

“Of course, we meet up with other clubs from a social point of view,” says Sheila. “But there would be something sad if the club came to an end. All the history and happy memories. There’s something special about being part of your ‘local’ club and getting stuck in to compete against others and make it the very best it can possible be.”

The club meets at Austwick Village Hall, near Settle, on Tuesday nights at 7.30pm. “We can promise a warm welcome., “ says Sheila. “Generations of youngsters in the area have enjoyed getting out and meeting new friends at young farmers. It’s so important in a rural area like ours and we’re determined to do everything we can to save the club.”

For further information telephone Sheila on 01524 251136 or get in touch with the Yorkshire Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs via www.yfyfc.org.uk

THANKS to Angus Brennan for this picture (left) of giraffes in the garden of a house in Barnoldswick. Angus says the additions to the front garden are causing quite a stir with both drivers and residents.

“Many drivers have to take a double look and generally cant believe their eyes as to what they see in this person’s front garden,” he says.

ANYONE with a beaver, scout or cub in the family will be familiar with the annual hilarity that is the ‘gang show’, and Kildwick and Farnhill scouts have the proud distinction of having the longest running group ‘gang show’ in the country. This weekend, the pack will be running the gang show for an incredible 78th time, the first held way back in 1941.

Running twice over the weekend at the Glusburn Institute, Glusburn, the gang show will feature the enthusiastic efforts of more than 90 beavers, cub scouts, scouts, explorers and leaders, who will be performing several numbers including ‘The Wild West’, ‘Let Us Entertain You’, ‘It’s a Kind of Magic’ and everyone’s favourite ‘YMCA’. One thing is for sure, they will be dressing up, and there will be lots of hilarity.

In addition to the musical performances, there will also be sketches, including ‘The Fate of Sir Walter Raleigh’, ‘Ward 13’, and to finish off, the traditional ‘Crest of a Wave’.

The gang show will take place at the Glusburn Institute, Glusburn, tomorrow (Friday) and on Saturday. Doors open at 6.45pm for a 7.15pm start. Adults £7.50 and children, £5. Family and group tickets also available, tickets from Neil Tillotson on 01535 653511 or emailing richtilly@aol.com

50 YEARS ago, on November 21, 1969, the Craven Herald reported on the trouble elderly people were having crossing the road at Earby Railway Station. The problem, as heard at the Urban Council, was a lack of lighting. It was agreed to write to British Rail. In Skipton, the council discussed Springs Canal and Eller Beck Ravine and how the area was ‘crying out for development’. 19 villages and towns in the Craven district which were part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park were included in a list of 75 West Riding towns and villages to be designated as conservation areas. They were considered to be of special architectural or historical interest.

It also seemed unlikely that Skipton was to have a Whitsuntide Fair in 1970 because of health and safety reasons. A letter had been received from Allied Ironfounders which stated that land on the east side of Carleton New Road was used by them for dumping purposes and would not be suitable for a fair or anything of a similar nature.

100 YEARS ago, on November 21, 1919, the Craven Herald reported on a ‘sensation’ in Glusburn when a former soldier had shot at his wife with a double-barrelled shotgun. Fortunately, the woman, who had a child on her lap at the time, was not killed, the shotgun pellets hitting the wall behind her. It was also reported how the Black Dyke Band, on their way to a concert in Barnoldswick in a charabanc, got stuck at Gill Brow. The Herald reported that due to the snow bound state of the road, the vehicle was unable to negotiate the hill. After wasting a considerable amount of time in futile attempts, the men were forced to walk the remaining part of the way, carrying their instruments, with the result that the afternoon concert was delayed. The return journey to Queensbury also proved a trying experience for the band members and took nearly hours due to the sleet and snow. The concert in Barnoldswick was promoted by the Barnoldswick Brass Band.