The Origin and Objectives of The Club - E.A.Porter
The late E.A.Porter was our first President and he wrote the following Introduction in Volume 1, No.1 of the Journal in February 1922.
During the late autumn of 1920 four enthusiasts, Petty, Wood, Griffiths and Butterfield, recently returned from the field of War, their love for adventure evidently not in any way diminished, frequently met for week-end scrambles and moorland rambles.
Many places were visited including Simon Seat, Rylestone Crags and Rocky Valley, Ilkley, but their favourite resort was that noble pile of gritstone, Almscliff Crags, so prominent on the sky-line between Otley and Harrogate. These rocks afforded them ample scope for their climbing powers, which were then not very great. Useful hints and assistance were given by several of the more experienced members of the "Yorkshire Ramblers" who likewise made Almscliffe their happy hunting ground.
By the following Spring this little band of would-be-climbers had increased to more than double, all fired with the desire to get up and down impossible places, greatly to the astonishment and amusement of spectators who happened to be there.
Even the writer eventually succumbed to the fascinating thrills this glorious pastime offered.
Not content with Sundays only, several made a practice of camping every Saturday, and scarcely a week-end passed without at least two of our present members sought{seeking} the friendly shelter of some overhang for their night's repose.
The Summer of 1921 being ideal for walking and climbing, several parties were made up for the more serious part of the business - climbing in the Lake District.
Wasdale, Coniston and other centres were visited and good climbing done, all returning with more ambition and enthusiasm than ever.
By this time the company had increased to twelve and much experience had been gained, in fact, all had got beyond the mystery of tying knots, some even styled themselves climbers.
At this period ambitious thoughts emanated from one of the original four - H.C.Wood - that a Club should be formed and as several of the Company could see it was dangerous to thwart the ambitions of youth, this excellent idea was carried out.
On Friday, January 13th 1922 the Gritstone Club came into existence. Officers were elected, rules drawn up, with a further suggestion from the same fertile source, that a Journal should be published at frequent intervals.
One object of our Club is to keep the members in closer touch, not for climbing alone, but for pot-holing, fell-walking and explorations in other directions. Also it will increase that spirit of good fellowship and disinterestedness of purpose so charactaristic of the climbing fraternity.
The Journal idea is good and should always be a source of information and humour, and will serve as a record of the Club work.
Forming a Club is quite a simple matter, but keeping it together in an active and healthy state is more difficult.
This can only be done by each member realizing that he has a responsible part to play and all endeavouring to do their little bit for the good of the whole.
E. A. Porter (1922)
Scott, our second President, was a talented engineer who's Bradford works manufactured motorcycles with water cooled two stroke engines. Several early members owned Scott Squirrels and used them as transport to the hills and pots. A tip to Skye in the 1920's by motorcycle on the roads of the time must have been an adventure in itself. A particular development was the 'Scott Sociable', an open topped three wheeler with the off-side wheels in line. Several Scott motorcycles and a Sociable can be seen at the Bradford Industrial Museum.
