Cioch

Back in the early '60s, long long ago when Geoff was only two foot six, agroup of obsessive climbers (including myself) banded together to be known as The Cioch Club (or the Stoney Mob) The reason for the name is lost in the mists of time though as I recall it is Gaelic for tit or something like it. Well, that says it all. Anyway, we rented an upstairs room at the end of the café block at Stoney Middleton in the nearby Peak District. For about 3 years the hut became the focus for climbing in the area, both for the club and for many other climbers whom we would charge for the night's accommodation. (Evil old bunks or hard floor).

August 2003, Geoff Birtles, master of nostalgia and keeper of the sacred hut book nagged the remaining members of the club into having a reunion. Well, there aren't that many of us left, perhaps the '60s lifestyle has taken its toll but here we are in an Indian restaurant in Dore, a posh suburb of Sheffield.

Left to right, Cioch Club remnants, 2003, Jack Street, Gerry Langsley, me, Bruno (Paul Burnet), John (Ackers) Atkinson, Brian (Wattles) Starkey and in the lower right corner a small portion of Geoff Birtles belly which seemed to be in the ascendant.

Picture 2 is where it all started for me. This is the entrance to Fingal's Cave at Stoney Middleton, this was the site of my first bivouac with those who were to become the Cioch club. Left to right Brian Starkey, John Atkinson, Geoff Birtles, Jack Street, front row Gerry Langsley and me Chris Jackson.

Sadly missing is Dave Nowill who took his own life after financial problems in the '70s and Brian Moor who was ill at this time and died two weeks later.

November 11th 2011, Geoff, organized an expedition through Chee Dale for those of us left.

Left to right, gazing down at the Styx, probably waiting for Charon, Geoff Birtles, Jack Street, John (Ackers) Atkinson and Brian (Wattles) Starkey. Next, on yet another bridge, L-R Jack Street, Geoff Birtles, Brian Starkey, John (Ackers) Atkinson and Chris Jackson. Below Chee Tor with authors of the Chee Tor Girdle, Chris, Ackers and Wattles. Last, one of the Chee Dale tunnels.

Recently, there have been several more expeditions, strategically arranged to coincide with me being away on holiday. However, I managed to join one to Harboro Rocks where we all (eventually) made it to the trig point.

August 2nd 2013. The Brassington Rocks expedition.

So there we are. L-R on picture 1 are Brian (Wattles) Starkey, Chris (Hot Pants) Jackson, Jack Street, Gerry Langsley, Geoffrey (Bubbles Bon-Bon) Birtles, Graham (Graz) Hawker and John (Ackers) Atkinson. Mix and match for picture 2.

October 18th 2013

This was a misty expedition to White Edge when there were lots of moans about it being too far and being damp underfoot. However HP who organized it thought it was brilliant, from a totally unbiased standpoint of course. LJ was spooked by the whole expedition and stayed home in his box.

1. Grumpy Ackers, Gerry, Graz and Jack
2. On White Edge
3. Lunch Stop
4. The crossing to Froggatt Edge
5. At the Grouse Inn.

April 11th 2014. The Rocking Stone Expedition. Probably organised by Jack and was an excellent expedition on a magnififent spring day. The Rocking Sone and the Andle Stone are near Birchover.

1. To the Rocking Stone
2. Geoff, Al Evans and Jack
3. L-R Graz, Gerry, Jack, HP, Geoff, Al Evans, Ackers
4. The Andle Stone, Jack uses every means.
5. Topping out, where's Geoff?
6. Archaeology trip

August 8th 2014. This was an expedition to rediscover the ancient Via Ferrata of Stoney Middleton. Despite all of us hanging out there for several years, only a couple of us were aware of it. It sneaks up the hillsde beween quarries and leads one onto the top of Moon Hill. I had to cry off as a cousin of mine had inconsiderately dropped dead on a golf course and I had to attend his funeral. The usual suspects were on the expedition including Dave Little and Mac (Malcome) Battersby. The last picture shows Jack on the crux section of the Via Ferrata. Photos © Wattlesnap.

1. Below the Cioch Club hut. L-R Dave Little, Jack Street, Mac Battersby, Gerry, Wattles, Little Geoff, Ackers
2. Windy Buttress
3. Tottering along Windy Ledge
4. Lunch Stop
5. On the crux of the Via Ferrata.

December 3rd 2014. The Cioch Club Jeffcoat's Pinnacle Expedition. A prestigeous expedition of top Cioch remnants made an ambitious bid for the legendary Jeffcoat's Pinnacle in the White Peak. Apart from an ascent in 1942 photographed by one J.M.Restall there seems to be no other record of another ascent, probably due to its threatening aspect and remote location well known for maurauding sheep.

1. Jeffcoat's Pinnacle 1942
2. The Team, John Ackers Atkinson, Gerry Langsley, Dave Little and Jack Street, president and keeper of the golden nugget.
3. In the distance.
4. Gerry makes a bold and runnerless bid for the summit while Jack belays using the trusty alpine belay.
5. We were then winched up, photo Dave Little.
6. Stanly Jeffcoat himself

Who was Jeffcoat?

Stanley Jeffcoat was commissioned in 24th Jan 1917. He joined the 22nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers in France on 3rd April 1917. He was fatally wounded near Oppy Wood 29th April 1917 whilst carrying out a daring bombing raid which help his battalion achieve its objective. He died the next day on 30th April. He was buried in Roclincourt Military Cemetery. Born in Stretford, Lancs in 1884. He worked as an estate agent's apprentice. Married Ida Burton in 1915 and was a member of a rock-climbing club. He was posthumously mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette 18th Dec 1917.

Who are the climbers at the pinnacle? This was taken in 1942 by J.M.Restall, middle of the second world war, many of the group seem to be female.

March 6th 2015 Cardor Low Expedition

1. This expedition started from Parsley Hay and the members present where from the left
Ackers, Graz, Pack A Mac, Wattles, G Birtles incognito, Black Jack.
The weather was perfect but with a strong wind.

2. Some of the stiles presented a problem to two of our members I think it was the topography when the land is steep and you go up one or two steps of the stile on the other side you may have to go down three or four steps on the other side.
This may seem obvious to most walkers but unfortunately it did not register with all the Cioch members.

3. Despite our tumbling fools we all reached the summit of Carder Low just in time for dinner and a well earned rest.

4. On the way back we were rounded up by a flock of human hating sheep and Ackers found the love of his life.(Dennis)

5. This is a photo of the finale  hill just before the disused railway line at Parsley Hay.

This is the inside of a shelter that volunteers built in the Croatian style at Parsley Hay.

Your president keeper of the holy nugget, editor of the Cioch news letter, Jack

 

Chris Jackson e-mail