Formation and early years.

In the summer of 1978 a series of public meetings in Blairgowrie culminated in the formation of the Blairgowrie and District Hillwalking Club.

The meetings, organised by Kenneth Stewart (the Community Education Officer for Blairgowrie), were held on 17th June and 20th July to discuss the formation of the "Blairgowrie and District Hillwalking and Rambling Club".

"This is your chance to make new friends, keep fit and explore the Scottish Hills" the notices in the Blairgowrie Advertiser announced to attract potential Club members to the meetings.

The message succeeded and about 50 people attended the meetings to show their interest in and enthusiasm for the formation of a hillwalking club.

Those attending included "experienced walkers as well as complete beginners, some young… some not so young". (This still describes the membership at the present time).

The club was formally constituted at a meeting on 7th September 1978 in the Hill Hall, Upper Allan Street, Blairgowrie. The meeting was chaired by Kenneth Stewart and resulted in a first committee of:

   Chairman: Graham Smith
   Vice Chairman: Chas Davidson
   Secretary: Sheena Stuart
   Treasurer: Maurice Hanson
   Meet Secretary: None selected
   Committee members: Douglas Rennie, Elizabeth Page,
             Tom Morrison and Robin Shepherd.
   At a meeting on 19th October 1978 Ian Mitchell was elected
             as a 9th committee member.

Before this meeting two trial walks had been undertaken so that the beginners could get an idea of their capabilities. In the event they learned that "they can walk 10 miles quite easily." Furthermore "all are looking forward to graduating to slightly higher ground".

The name Blairgowrie and District Hillwalking Club was chosen at this meeting and has remained the name of the club ever since.

Extract from the minute book showing the "election" of the club name.

The initial membership was 50, 48 of whom joined at the first meeting. The subscriptions were set at £1 for full membership and 50p for juniors. By the end of the year the total membership was 60 full members and 15 juniors.

The first club walk was on Sunday 17th September 1978 to Glen Doll. Forty seven walkers enjoyed "fine weather" and seem to have covered two walks - one being the Munros Mayar and Dreish, the other, less strenuous, to Loch Brandy.

The Blairgowrie Advertiser report also mentions "Although some teething problems were encountered the majority of the participants agreed that the meeting had been enjoyable."

It was also at this point that walks were planned for every third Sunday (which continues at present). Future walks mentioned were:

• 8th October: Moulin (near Pitlochry)
• 29th October: Linn o'Dee.
• Undated/planned: Glenshee, Amulree and Bridge of Cally.

It can be seen that the initial walks were within the local area and essentially based on recognised hill tracks.

Membership from 1978 to 2002

The histogram above shows the membership levels for each year from 1978 to the present. Both Full and Junior memberships are shown. Note that the value for 2002 is not yet the final.

After the initial enthusiasm when the club was formed and many families joined - the membership drops rapidly over 4 years to a low of 36 members in 1982/83. The proportional drop in full and junior members suggest that some of the families were leaving, possibly because they had expected a greater rambling component in the clubs walks (as indicated in one of the original names for the club).

From 1983 onwards there is a slow but steady increase to the low 40s in 1990/91. Then there is a rapid increase to 74 members in 1995/96 which probably coincides with the much greater interest in hill activities in general and with the MCofS insurance requirement for a visitor to become a member after two visits.

After peaking in 1996 the membership reaches a stable level of between 60 and 70 members up until the present time.

Potted History