Page 5 - Army Mountaineer Winter 2022

CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD
Changing the Guard Lt Col Pete Davis
As 2022 draws to a close, then I would like to introduce myself as your new Chairman and take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Chair – Colonel Liz Dallyn, and the out-going President – Major General David Southall, both for their commitment to the AMA and for their wider service as both are retiring from the Army following distinguished careers.
AllofusatAMAHQonbehalfofthe membership send our warm regards and wish Colonel Liz and General David the very best of luck with their future endeavours. Both have worked openly and behind the scenes to preserve the spirit of moun- taineering in the Army during a couple of miserable years where our traditional activities have been severely curtailed by the pandemic. I can confidently state (with a certain degree of inside knowledge!) that the worst of the pandemic is behind us now, and we are in a strong position to resume “normal jogging” with a full programme of meets, activities and expeditions to look forward to.
With that in mind, I would like to welcome our new President - Brigadier Adam Corkery. Brigadier Adam has introduced himself in his foreword, but without stealing his thunder I can say that he has a very strong pedigree in both mountain- eering and skiing that includes the recent Baffin Island expedition, and even a spell as an intern engineer with DMM post-uni- versity! Sir, we very much look forward to working with you as our President.
At our recent Annual General Meeting in North Wales, the formal proceedings confirmed that the AMA is currently in a very healthy state both in terms of its membership and also its underpinning finances. There are plentiful funds to support meets and expeditions, large or small, UK-based or overseas – so please use your imaginations and consider leading a rock climbing, mountaineering or ski mountaineering expedition.
We were treated at the AGM to a lecture by the legendary Mick Fowler. I choose to mention this because he is an inspiration to us. In his life he has combined a career in the Civil Service, reaching the equivalent of General Staff rank in the Army, with an exploratory mountaineering career that is second-to-none and that included past Presidency of the Alpine Club. It is truly remarkable that forty years ago I was sat in one of his lectures while I was an undergraduate at Liverpool University being enthralled by his alpine climbing exploits, and here he is – still “at it” in the Himalayas and earning the respect of his international peers through the award of three “Piolets d’or” - mountaineering’s Oscars. He is an inspiration because he has shown how to work damn hard and how to play just as hard.
The AMA needs you to participate in, and to lead its activities. Meets and expeditions don’t happen by themselves,
and as the pandemic ends, we do need to kick start activity to maintain the vitality of the association. I would like to thank all of the committee for their great efforts and for giving their time willingly to “make it happen” for you. This is a bumper edition of the journal too – brimming with articles thanks to Mark Gregory the editor. If you have something to contribute yourself, whether an idea for a trip or a journal article – then don’t be shy in coming forward; you will be welcomed!
IEDITOR’S FOREWORD
t is with great sadness that we said farewell to HM Queen Elizabeth II earlier this year. As the head of our great nation, the Armed Forces and many of its charities, her influence has been profound. But did you know
that this great lady was also the patron of over 500 other charities, profes- sional bodies and public service organisations?
Her work with the likes of the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the Com- monwealth Forestry Association, highlights the important work undertaken to protect our natural environment for generations to come. I remember, with great fondness, my time as a Cadet and Adult Volunteer with Devon Army Cadet Force. It was through them that I got my first taste of hillwalking and climbing, and I went on to compete in the annual Ten Tors expedition five-years running. And through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (her beloved husband’s legacy), I also sampled expeditions to Crete and Spain. However, this is only one of many youth organisa- tions for which her late Majesty was an active supporter. As the Scout and Guide Associations remember their patron, her influence in getting youngsters outdoors cannot be underestimated. Her steadfast commitment over seven decades has ensured that we continue to grow future generations of hillwalkers, climbers and mountaineers with access to a protected and thriving landscape.
Mark Gregory
ARMY MOUNTAINEER / 5