It hardly seems any time since we were last posting on this subject but we want to assure all our customers that despite the current bad weather we are very much open for business, in both Harrogate and Peebles. We all live within walking distance of the shops so we are able to get there even when its snowy (whether you can reach us or not is, of course, another matter!). Scheduled deliveries to us are currently being delayed to varying degrees- so if you need us to order anything, please ensure you leave a little leeway in your timescale to take this into account.
In November 1992 we were working hard to get our shop in Peebles opened. We were living in a draughty old shepherd's cottage in the Moorfoot Hills at the time and one day, our landlady remarked that there was a famous mountaineer coming to give a fundraising talk in aid of the village hall. It seemed unlikely but yes, Chris Bonington was coming to Carrington. It proved to be a memorable evening that people still occasionally mention to us today. Standing room only with an eclectic audience of school children, Women's Institute stalwarts, elders of the kirk and a smattering of outdoor enthusiasts. It probably wasn't the kind of gathering Bonington was used to speaking to but his professionalism and communication skills ensured that his stories came alive for everyone in the room. At the end of the presentation we joined the scrum of autograph hunters and got his signature on a poster which we hung in our new shop on the day it opened. It stayed on the wall for quite a few...