24 June 2013

Rucksack Club seeks climbers from the past

Dundee University Rucksack Club (DURC) is looking to make contact with former members to help celebrate its 90th anniversary later this year.

'Queens College Dundee Rucksack Club' was founded in 1923 - some 44 years before the University of Dundee formally came into being as an independent institution - and is believed to be amongst the oldest university mountaineering clubs in the UK.

Thousands of members have taken part in club-organised climbs, hikes and other excursions since then, and the 190 or so current members are hoping to involve as many of their predecessors as possible in the anniversary celebrations.

A 'Big Weekend' for current and former members will be held at Nethy Bridge on the weekend of 27th September. Participants will tackle the nearby hills and crags together before returning to the village for a ceilidh that evening.

This will be followed on Saturday, 26th October by a celebration event at the University's Dalhousie Building with Dave McLeod, one of the world's top climbers, as the star guest. He will talk about his experiences and passion for climbing, while a series of films and exhibitions, including one on the history of DURC, will also taking place.

Club President Guy Templeton said, 'We are very excited to be putting together a programme of celebration events and to be able to bring current and past members together to share stories.

'The extensive history of the club is documented and stored within the University archives. The 'meets books' are of particular interest. This is a book we take each time we go out and has the names of everyone on the meet and your intended route for the day.

'Upon return, we then make notes about what happened on the day and we have been able to look over meet books dating back to the club's formation. Climbing is a passion for all of us and so the chance to meet with Dave McLeod and hear about his climbing career will be a real privilege.'

Anyone looking to find out more should visit www.durc.org.uk/durc-90 or email durc90@durc.org.uk.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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