Dennis Gray

  Climbing in West Yorkshire began with Slingsby (famous for his Norwegian pioneering) on the gritstone outcrops around Skipton in 1864. Fred Botterill followed in the early 1900's and then C D Frankland who pioneered some difficult routes and problems in the 1920's, particularly at Almscliff. In the 1940's and early 1950's Arthur Dolphin was the outstanding pioneer in the area, followed by Allan Austin. The first modern climbing wall in Leeds in 1964 spawned a rise in standards, particularly by John Syrett. At the same time the Barley Brothers (Robin and Tony) were active, and Robin has possibly pioneered more new rock routes than any other British climber around the world. Pete Livesey appears in the 1970’s followed by Ron Fawcett and John Dunne, all household names in British rock climbing. The talk will be a true Who’s Who of British climbers.