I heard the sad news today that Joe had died last week . He was an Egremont lad who with a group of other locals in the 1960`s did some repeat ascents of the hardest climbs at the time including Geoff Olivers Ichabod, on the East Buttress of Scafell in the 1970`s.
They were typical West Cumbrian lads , a day out with them was full of banter and wit. Lacking transport, Joe and his mate Jed Cowan walked from Egremont to Esk Buttress one day to do an early ascent of Red Edge then walked back!. During the 1966 foot and mouth outbreak, they turned their attention to the sandstone cliffs of St Bees Head. Using Phillips Redhead bolts and oak wedges for protection , they pioneered many difficult climbs on the South head. The bolts , were designed for concrete anchors , their length no more than 2 inches. Hangers for the bolts were manufactured from angle iron in the fitters work shops at Sellafield. An unwritten rule during these pioneering years was that the person who placed the bolt was the first to abseil from it Over the years , Joe spent much of his time here earning the title of Mr St Bees.
Joe`s style of climbing was immaculate, particularly his footwork. He was a great inspiration to me when I started climbing. I well remember dithering on one of his St Bees routes with Joe watching. He shouted up to me " a crack is a friend" as I struggled but eventually managed to get up it .
Never at the forefront of publicity in that era, Joe deserves to be remembered for his contribution to West Cumbrian climbing.