Ramblings of a Deltiologist

Just dug out this old badge from when I was a child. It was attached to me when we went on a school trip to the zoo. I remember seeing the elephants, but I am not sure if it is because I was delivered there like a lost parcel! On the topic of young pupils and extra-curricular activities, I have re-posted this exquisite photographic postcard I found a while ago ( click here for original post ). I have tried to name all the characters, but I am still not sure about a few. If you recognise any, please let me know! Lastly, here is a recent acquisition from a postcard fair. Apologies to those who would prefer not to be reminded of the dreaded medicine ball, but it really is a splendid picture. What I particularly love is the row of umbrellas in the background. It reminds me of shivering on the hockey pitch as the rain dripped down my face! Oh happy days! Thanks to Sepia Saturday for the inspiration!

About a month ago I picked up these wonderful photographs of a climbing meet in the Lake District in the early 1930s. They show the kind of group walking/climbing meets that were organised at that time. Some were organised by climbing clubs and others were organised by holiday organisations. These kind of group holidays were often where young people were first introduced to the sport and where they got to rub shoulders with people from the serious climbing clubs, such as the Alpine Club (founded 1857), the Rucksack Club (founded 1902), Fell and Rock Climbing Club (founded 1907), and the women-only Pinnacle Club (founded 1921). Often people would take the train at the end of the working week and head up to the Lake District by train. Often friends would meet on the train and get a taxi together to the hostel where everyone would be staying. Wasdale Head It is interesting how there was still a mix of climbing clothing in this period. Serious women climbers were certainly wearing ...