Roger Payne Manchester Memorial Event

Roger Payne pictured guiding in the Alps in 2004 above the Moiry refuge. Image by Jon Wigg courtesy of the BMC.

And celebrating his departure from the BMC where he held several posts and did invaluable work.

Following the recent tragic death of Roger Payne in an avalanche in the Alps, the BMC is holding an informal memorial event for Roger in Manchester next month. Here are the full details from the BMC.

Roger Payne Manchester Memorial Event

Following church services in Leysin and London, there will be an informal event to celebrate the life of Roger Payne in Manchester on Saturday 8 September in the banqueting room of Manchester Town Hall.

Speakers will look back at Roger's achievements in the mountaineering world and we will then have a few beers in the finest Payne tradition.

The evening starts will at 6.30pm with a pre-speech drink before the presentations get underway at 7.15pm with Iain Peter talking about their very effective partnership in the Alps and Himalaya including ascents of the Walker Spur and the North face of the Eiger, interspersed with tales involving bad behaviour in bars.

We will also highlight Roger's contribution to mountaineering during his years at the British Mountaineering Council.  Andy MacNae and Ian Parnell will delve into the Machiavellian world of climbing politics and reveal Roger's particular methods of getting things done.

Finally, Julie-Ann Clyma will talk about their climbing lives together, the mountain guiding that brought them into contact with so many people and what that meant to her and Roger.

The event is underwritten by the BMC, and there will be a light buffet afterwards, but the free bar will probably run out sooner rather than later.

Donations to the Roger Payne Memorial Fund will be gratefully accepted.  www.bmg.org.uk/index.php/eng/News/Roger-Payne-Memorial-Fund

Thanks to everyone who has contributed pictures of Roger and donations to the fund so far. We look forward to seeing you on 8 September.

Details of how to get to Manchester Town Hall: www.manchester.gov.uk/location
If you’re planning to attend could you email Kate Anwyl at kate@thebmc.co.uk