In 2008 the hiking club reached it's 30th birthday! The club is now both the oldest and largest out of all the societies section. We've gone through our archives and dug out some old photos and documents from the last three decades
The club began its life in 1978 as Loughborough Campus Youth Hostelling group
In 1992 the club became the "Loughborough Hiking and Hostelling" club to better describe its activities
By 1996, it was felt that the current name was too long winded and the current name was chosen in a competition - the winner won a T shirt for their efforts.
We've always had problems getting drivers. In March 89, there is a comment in the minutes about there being no drivers for a trip to a castle in Gloucestershire.
Over the years the club has organised a wide range of trips and socials all over the United Kingdom, and sometimes abroad.
Foot and mouth disease hit the club hard in 2002 when almost all of the countryside was closed for over 12 months.
In the beginning the club used to use YHA hostels for accommodation, and go as small groups. The destinations haven't changed much either; Lake District, Snowdonia and the Yorkshire Dales have always been favourites
As early as 1988 we have records of people getting lost on hills, the minutes from 15th November 1988 reference the 'Harlech Incident' with a number of comments emphasising safety procedures such as knowing where people have gone, getting members on appropriate walks, and keeping groups together. We have no detail on what the 'Harlech Incident' was though...
Chairs seem to have had a particularly turbulent record!. In June 1986, an Emergency General Meeting was called during a trip to Glen Coe to expel the Chair and 3 other members from the club and the YHA due to a contravention of hostel rules at night. In December 89 the chair resigned due to 'conflicting personal interests'.
