This month we return to the 1943-44 Journal, which was visited last year when the 3’s were reviewed. It is a rather ‘thin’ Journal, but there was a World War raging. The Editor at the time felt the need to apologise ‘to those who are away from home for the fact that this Journal, slim though it is, has to do for two years.’
It is the extensive Editor’s Notes that I have chosen to highlight on this occasion, as they given a clear insight into the many difficulties faced producing the Journal. These included few meets, low numbers attending and, for those posted abroad, the ‘efficiency of the censorial pencils’. There is also a plea to write about simple trips, something the current Editor may approve of! In the Notes, the Editor then muses about accidents, as well as how beginners should be introduced to the hills. I hope you find it as insightful as I have. The article can be found by clicking here.
There are also some excellent pen and ink sketches in its pages such as the one of Three Shire Head below.
To read the full 1943-44 Journal, please click this link.
Good choice. It seems the editor’s song does not change! The current membership does not have the excuse of war curtailing activities. Maybe it is the prevelance of social media and an instogram generation more intent on pictures and short videos than writing copy which is leading to a drought of contributions to the Journal. Whatever is the reason, we are in danger of facing the same possibility of publication every two years or longer. Unlike the war years, members are able to ‘get out there’ and easily accessible now includes most of the UK and parts of Europe. Without contributions we can’t publish a Journal and publishing costs are increasing making a thin Journal very poor value for money. It would be good to get some articles on current trips and for me not to rely on the usual suspects and memories of trips many years ago. The survival of the Journal is in your hands.