Len Hands [1933 - 5-Apr-2013] 

Kissing Gate memorial located at grid ref:SU931508

Vice Chair 1994 - 1999

Chair of Kingston Ramblers 1999 - 2005

Len had been an enthusiastic mountain walker and climber for most of his adult life. Len was an experienced rock, ice and snow climber and had many Alpine holidays where he climbed some of the highest peaks including Mont Blanc itself.  He loved “mountain talk” and told wonderful tales of an electric storm at altitude, of a crevasse accident, and of hair-raising descents.

Len had an extensive knowledge of the Lake District fells. He and Mavis often stayed there, either at Borrowdale Youth Hostel where a Coventry mountaineering friend had become warden, or at the warden’s own home in Keswick.

Len was an active member of the group after joining in 1985. He was Vice-Chairman from 1994 to 1999 and Chairman from when John Trice stepped down in 1999 until 2005.

While he was an ordinary committee member, he prepared many programmes (in the days when each walk leader had to be contacted at least twice – once to request walks, then to confirm dates and to get the details of the walks).

As well as leading many walks, every year, Len organised many different things for Kingston Ramblers (he and Mavis were, together, a team who welcomed members and made them feel welcome to the Group):

• Summer parties and BBQs – at least one in his own garden, others at his gym in Thames Ditton or other locations
• Holidays in the Lake District and Corris (the home of Coventry Mountaineering Club’s Mountain Hut in an old miner’s cottage)
• Navigation courses to try and encourage new leaders and to give them confidence
• Arranging for Martin Moran (a mountain walk holiday organiser from Scotland) to give a slideshow at one of our AGMs
• Mince pie walks on the last Sunday before Christmas – Mavis prepared all the mince pies and the tea was served from their car – all gratis.

The article is from information provided by Ruth Garrod and Jean Davies. Thanks to Jean Davies for the photo.

A Kissing Gate has been dedicated to Len Hands memory.  Its location is identified by the grid reference SU931508 and the photos below show the gate and his wife at the opening ceremony in February 2018.

Len Hands and a group on top of Cader Idris in September 1994