Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:11 am Post subject: Painting "100TH" on Churchill Slab
Have you seen the photo yet of Butch Tyzack climbing up towards the painted "100TH" sign high up on the rock face called The Slab at Churchill ( http://s89.photobucket.com/albums...64_ButchTyzack_Churchill_Slab.jpg )? I imagine you can still drive along the road below the rock, but the sign has long since faded
Forgive me, Butch, if I've forgotten a few details but this is how I remember the sign getting there...
One night, Butch and I climbed over the fence surrounding the MPBW (you remember: "Ministry of Public Building and Works") storage area and borrowed a large can of whitewash and a broom head. We then motored off to The Slab, probably in my old Austin A80, and climbed it, Butch leading the way as always, dropping me the rope once he'd reached the top so I could follow him up with the paint and brush.
We'd climbed The Slab a few times before and had all the gear: climbing boots, rope, carabiners, ... but this was the first time we'd done it by torchlight after a good night out at the pub. These days you can measure Dutch courage by blowing into a bag.
At the top, I roped myself to the usual rock and lowered Butch down to do the job, moving him across the face of the rock as his work of art progressed. And what a neat job he made of it - all by torchlight. Not surprisingly, I can't remember much more. I must have have taken the photo a day or two later.
Happy memories, Butch. We'll have to share a few more over a glass of the Egmont brew one of these days.
Hi Spike, good to see you on board the 100th site- had forgotten about the 100th sign on the slab and never did know who was responsible. Over the years, there have been many changes to the slab graphics. There is some kind of Druid, earth hugging symbol on it at the moment (you can just make it out).
The rock face seemed pretty steep to me- the pictures are deceptive. Almost killed myself climbing the first few feet and that was in daylight- don't know how you and Butch managed to get to the top in the dark.
Hi Tony, yes the Churchill Slab is near to the Nelson Arms at Churchill, on the West side of the A38. The map ref is: 51.328674,-2.797512.
Last edited by chuck shenton on Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:57 am; edited 1 time in total
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