Ferranti Mountaineering Club

History

In March 1955, the Ferranti Mountaineering Club was formed. In those far-off days of nailed boots, long ice-axes and hairy breeches, the club headed off to the hills - more often than not in an old Land-Rover borrowed from the company for the weekend. In those days 6 shillings (30p!) paid for the weekend's petrol! Interestingly, the club's early accounts show that even then the members were falling for the vice of ski-ing - with instruction for the princely sum of £1 3s 0d.
old FMC accounts
Times have moved on, but the FMC has prospered and continues to sally forth to the hills at frequent intervals. The club is now open to all and, at the ripe old age of fifty-odd, continues to have a keen and active membership. Club records are not as clear as they might be, but it seems that over the years over four hundred and fifty people have been members at one time or another. It also seems that the club's penchant for culinary excesses is also long established - it wasn't long before a first Annual Dinner was arranged, although as the menu suggests the choice was still a bit limited in a Scotland still recovering from the restrictions of the wartime era.
old FMC dinner menu
To celebrate the club's 50th Birthday, a grand celebration dinner was organised on Saturday 12th March 2005 at the Roxburghe Hotel, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. Those who felt the need for pre-dinner exercise enjoyed a celebratory ascent of Ben Vorlich, reputedly the club's first hill, and had a fine day and a fine view.

To see photos of the club through the ages, click here.

Hayfork Gully, An Teallach
Photo by Brian Shackleton
Website design by Rosemary A Cameron
Background by www.grsites.com