Roger Payne

Terrible news. We skiied with Roger two years in a row, he was extremely safe and obviously expert in understanding avalanche conditions. His trips were always excellent, both from the skiing perspective, and from his general sense of enthusiasm and fun.

Very sad news. Roger was always helpful and supportive in response to requests for information on skiers or objectives. I last saw him on a traverse of the Oberland where he was leading a ski group with admirable professionalism. I'm sure our thoughts will be with Julie-Ann & his family at such a dreadful time.

We were shocked and saddened to hear this terrible news. Our particular thoughts are with Julie-Ann. We have great positive memories of all our outings with Roger.

See news item.  We too have skied with Roger and Julie-Ann several times and I have written to Julie-Ann on behalf of the Club.  French news today (Friday) has carried tributes to him at the head of every bulletin.

What a loss. So enthusiastic, cheerful and helpful. He will be greatly missed.

Roger was my Alpine mentor, but aswell as Alpine skills I always learnt so much on leadership and teaching style just by watching him at work - great days, great fun and sadly, sadly missed - my thoughts are with Julie-Ann and all who knew him.

Information about three memorial events for Roger have been announced. Details are available at

http://www.andypmountainguide.com/index.php/eng/Community/News/Roger-Payne-Celebration

• A church service near his home in Leysin, Switzerland at 2 pm on Saturday 21st July
• A memorial service at 2pm on Saturday 28th July at URC Methodist Church in Askew Road, Shepherds Bush, London W12 9RN .
• The British Mountaineering Council and British Mountain Guides will organise a memorial event in Manchester in the ensuing weeks. 

Hi John

I see a memorial fund has been established.  Will the ESC be contributing?  Given how many of us had great days with him I would have thought this would be appropriate.

Phil Jardine

Absolutely agree. The club should make a significant donation.

However I'm sure many people would like to make individual contributions as well.

Simon Duvivier

The committee will discuss the possibility of making a donation to Roger's memorial fund from club funds. In the meantime, many club members who skied with Roger will no doubt wish to make their own donations.  Details of the fund are at

http://www.bmg.org.uk/index.php/eng/News/Roger-Payne-Memorial-Fund

On behalf of the team supporting Roger's wife, Julie-Ann Clyma, their colleague Andy Perkins would like to encourage all Eagles who have toured with Roger, or who knew him, to come to one of the celebrations of his life, in Leysin on 21 July, in London on 28 July or in Manchester (date TBA). Details are in my earlier posting on this thread.

Would anyone be interested in clubbing together to send some flowers to Leysin? 

A decent bouquet would be about £100-120

So far Declan and myself are keen.

It would be a nice touch from all the Eagles who have skied with Roger

Catherine,

We would chip in for this.

regards,

Stuart & Sonia

good idea. count me in

Phil

Us too,

Brian and Louise

Count me in.

Chris Jonson.

Hi All,

I have sent a floral arrangement from serenataflowers costing £135.98 red white and palm leaves... a bit different and bright.

I put in this message. but sadly not enough room to list names of contributors.

Roger, so lucky to have had fun times together and learnt so much from you. You will be sorely missed, but we won’t forget our virtuous habits or to live life to the full.

Go with God

Skiers ESC
 

I will let you know how much. 15 contributors so far.

Declan Phelan and Philippa

Mike and Valerie Hendry

Ella Schierbeek

Anna Seale

Pete Lancaster

Alan Sloan

Catherine Mangham

Mhairi Brown
John Jasinski
Julia Burkett
Michael Horner
 and all the folk on this message board too.

Thanks C

Regards and thanks all.

Catherine

There will be a separate message of support with the flowers, listing the names of those who have skied with Roger and are sending this particular bouquet. It is a large spray with palm leaves, red and white flowers. We have contacted everyone we toured with with Roger, for whom we have contact details.

I will keep a tab of anyone else who wants to contribute towards this as Catherine will be travelling to Switzerland for the service.

Thanks and regards

Elly

combin@netplus.ch

Such a loss. Roger was one of the best.

I've sent an individual donation to the memorial fund.

I would like to contribute if still possible? 

Rodger lead me on my first ski tour - he was a true leader and an inspiration.

Sheona Southern

Thanks Sheona, but the flowers where for the Leysin service last Saturday.

You can still  send flowers to the service in London this Saturday, or make a donation to the Roger Payne fund at the  BMC.

Hi All,

Roger's funeral in Leysin was lovely. In the little church next to the Fromagerie. People came from all over and a significant number of Swiss Mountain guides and people he had worked with in the international guiding community, as well as friends family and clients. Flowers, music and addresses by Ian Peter and family members gave a flavour of the richness of his life and the his loves and enthusiasms. Julie-Ann loved our flowers and they were with him in the hearse where he rested until the Monday, when he was cremated in a private family service. Julie-Ann was so grateful for everyone's messages of support. Her comment was, "but it is everyone's loss", and was clearly touched by how deeply people felt his absence in their lives.

If all who wanted to contribute to the flowers could email me, I will send bank details.

I think this list is correct. Please let me know if I have left anyone out or included anyone who should not be there. When I have confirmation from you all, I will know how much to charge.

Anna Seale - contacted

Alan Sloan

Brian and Louise Parkin

Declan Phelan and Philippa Cockman

Cathy O'Dowd

Rick Allen

Sandy Allen

Chris Johnson

Ella Shierbeek

James and Janet Grant - Paid

Jay Turner

John Jasinski

John Kotke

Julia Burkitt

Mhairi Brown

Mike and Valerie Hendry

Pete Lancaster

Phil Jardine

Stuart and Sonia Johnston

Simon Duvivier

Mike Horner

My email is cmjmangham@hotmail.com

Thanks

Catherine

Economist Obituary -

Please email me on john--russell@hotmail.co.uk if you would like to have a scan of the extensive obituary which appeared in the 21 July Economist.

John

Details of the event in Manchester on 8th September to celebrate Roger's life are now on the BMC website. I'm sure there will be many Eagles who wish to go & it would be useful to organise sharing of transport for people not local to Manchester. Anyone going from Bristol/Cheltenham area please get in touch.

http://www.thebmc.co.uk/celebrating-the-life-of-roger-payne

Here's the text:

Join us at an informal event to celebrate the life of Roger Payne at Manchester Town Hall on Saturday 8 September, starting at 6.30pm.

Roger Payne – former general secretary of the BMC and mountain guide – died in the recent accident on Mont Maudit that claimed nine lives.

Roger was well known across many branches of world climbing and, following church services in Leysin and London, there will an informal event to celebrate his life in Manchester on Saturday 8 September.

It takes place in the banqueting room of Manchester Town Hall, where speakers will look back at Roger's achievements across the mountaineering scene. Then, in the finest Payne tradition, we’ll have a few beers.

The evening starts at 6.30pm with a welcome drink, and the speeches getting underway at 7.15pm.

Iain Peter will reveal 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.

Andy MacNae and Ian Parnell will then delve into the Machiavellian world of climbing politics and Roger's contribution to mountaineering during his years at the BMC – including Roger's very 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.

There will be a light buffet afterwards.

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 and celebrating Roger's life with a few beers.

Event information
The BMC is supporting the evening, although we're guessing the free bar will run out sooner rather than later. Entry is free but donations to the Roger Payne Memorial Fund are very welcome. If you are interested in joining us please contact kate@thebmc.co.uk to give us an idea of numbers.