A.WAINWRIGHT - The Man

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Westmoreland Gazette Archive

 

 

Wainwright was born into poverty in the Lancashire town of Blackburn in 1907. The son of a stonemason, he left school when he was 13. During his childhood he would walk miles over the nearby countryside venturing to the summit of Mellor Moor (one of the greatest views in Lancashire) and into the nearby Forest of Pendle.  These early ventures as a lad, whetted AW's apetite and linked with his love of maps the seeds had been sown for a future amongst the fells.  Later, at the age of 23 he went on holiday to the Lake District. It was love at first sight. In his book Fellwanderer Wainwright described his first visit there.

 " I was utterly enslaved by all I saw," he said. "Here were no huge factories, but mountains; no stagnant canals, but sparkling crystal-clear rivers; no cinder paths, but beckoning tracks that clamber through bracken and heather to the silent fastnesses of the hills. That week changed my life."

 

He qualified as an accountant and moved to Kendal in 1941, rising to become Borough Treasurer seven years later. He spent every spare moment walking the fells that he loved so deeply. The first Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells was published in 1955 and in his introduction he wrote: ‘This book is one man’s way of expressing his devotion to Lakeland’s friendly hills. It was conceived, and is born, after many years of inarticulate worshipping at their shrines. It is, in very truth, a love-letter.’

  AW enjoys another smoke of his pipe.

 

He spent 13 years compiling the seven Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells, tramping the fells in all weathers at weekends, with raincoat, map and camera. Most of his fine, individual drawings were taken from his photographs. The Pictorial Guides were and are still distinctive. Fearing that printers would misspell words, his handwritten work was reproduced directly on to the page; the Westmorland Gazette of Kendal published them all.

 

Although passing away in 1991, AW's memory has  founded  the very essence of Lakeland's outdoors.  In writing his guides, AW has led several generations, and no doubt more to come, over the great fells.   Preserved in his writings is a Lakeland we adore and in reading is books our minds may well pass back to glorious days spent on the fells.  It cannot be denied, AW is in us all - the solitary walker exploring the high places in search of our own rewards.  Finally, I pass over to AW himself in closing:

 

 “And if you, dear reader, should get a bit of grit in your boot as you are crossing Haystacks in the years to come, please treat it with respect.  It might be me.”

 

 

                                                                        NEXT PAGE

 - Page 3 -