Henry Hindmarch lived and worked in Sunderland. Born in 1937 he described himself as an ordinary working man, a bachelor, who from an early age visited Scotland as often as possible; first by cycle, then car, and in later years in his caravette with his constant companion and much loved Irish Setter. His enthusiasm for the Scottish mountains meant that he was often accompanied by his sister and her family to the remote areas of Scotland where they enjoyed many walking holidays.

Upon his death in 1992, by a heart attack whilst cycling home from work, his pension trustees and family kindly donated £15,000 to the Mountaineering Council of Scotland to set up a fund; to help ensure access to, and the conservation of, the hills he had a life long passion for.

It is the intention of the MCofS not simply to spend the initial money, but to raise a lot more to add to the original donation. This is seen as an ongoing access and conservation fund that will assist a diverse range of projects, which could include footpath repairs, projects to clean up degraded or littered sites, the production of leaflets, purchase of signs, and other ideas that our members come up with. We aim to create a fund that Henry Hindmarch would have been proud to have given his name to.

The MCofS Access & Conservation Committee are directly responsible for the management of the Fund and make recommendations as to the projects it should help.

The Fund has now become a Charitable Trust, Scottish Charity Number SCO30055. The Purposes of the Trust are:

The Fund is established for the benefit of mountaineers and the general public to safeguard access to and protect and conserve the hills, crags and mountains of Scotland and their flora and fauna;

• to advance the education of the public about the conservation of the hills, crags and mountains of Scotland and their flora and fauna;
• to educate the public about access to the Scottish mountains and countryside by providing relevant information to mountaineers and the general public;
• to help protect or enhance access whilst safeguarding landscapes from damage by supporting projects which aim to improve, renovate or maintain paths and associated access facilities on and to hills and mountains and routes leading to, from or over crags;
• to conserve and enhance the landscapes, flora and fauna which are enjoyed by mountaineers and other visitors to the hills, crags and mountains including supporting the control and restoration of erosion and other forms of damage.

Projects Assisted to Date:
Lairig Ghru Footpath Restoration Project
MCofS 'Wild Camping' leaflet
MCofS 'Where to "Go" in the Great Outdoors' leaflet
Stirling University Mountaineering Club Photographic Exhibition

Putting Something Back:
Henry Hindmarch's generous gesture was his way of putting something back into the outdoors that he loved so much. All of us who enjoy our recreation in the great outdoors have an impact on the countryside, and it is only right that we as walkers and climbers put something back into the hills we love.

That is why we are asking you to give generously to this fund. Please contribute whatever you feel you can afford to help us to work for access and conservation, OR even better, consider leaving money to the fund as a legacy. Please use the form for both forms of donation: