Our club was formed at a special meeting held on Wednesday January 30 1935 at Kendal Public Library. The new club was called “the Lake District CHA and HF Rambling Club”. (It was changed to “South Lakes Walking Club” around 1995/1996).
The club's first president was Mr T.A. Leonard, founder of CHA holidays (The Cooperative Holiday Association) in 1893, and also founder of Holiday Fellowship, (now HF Holidays) in 1913. He was also a key figure in establishing both the YHA and the Ramblers Association, and a founder member of the Friends Of The Lake District.
The Cooperative Holiday Association changed its name to the Countrywide Holiday Association in 1964. It ceased operations some years ago, but many of the walking clubs that were associated with it still continue. HF holidays, to which SLWC is now affiliated, is still flourishing today.
A special thanks to Alice Cramer for keeping the box of achieve material safe.
The club's first president was Mr T.A. Leonard, founder of CHA holidays (The Cooperative Holiday Association) in 1893, and also founder of Holiday Fellowship, (now HF Holidays) in 1913. He was also a key figure in establishing both the YHA and the Ramblers Association, and a founder member of the Friends Of The Lake District.
The Cooperative Holiday Association changed its name to the Countrywide Holiday Association in 1964. It ceased operations some years ago, but many of the walking clubs that were associated with it still continue. HF holidays, to which SLWC is now affiliated, is still flourishing today.
A special thanks to Alice Cramer for keeping the box of achieve material safe.
A note about the prices: £1 in 1935 is equivalent in purchasing power to about £73 today. This means that the annual subscription of 2/6p is equivalent to £9 today, which is similar to our current subscription. The trip to Staveley for the Garburn Pass walk costing 1/6d in 1935 is like £5.50 in today's money.