Martin Kocsis heads down South to tackle Scott Titt. Scott has been involved with the South West Area of the BMC for many years, and is a well-recognised activist at his beloved Swanage. He represents the South West on the BMC National Council.

It’s a long way from Swanage to Manchester. Why get involved?
The BMC isn’t just about Manchester. It’s for all climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers in England and Wales. If I didn’t come the northerners would start calling Alderley Edge “the south”.

What do you want to see more of?
Participation and involvement by those affected by what the BMC does - that’s you dear reader. I want to see more events (e.g. crag clean-ups and open days) where BMC members can meet the officers and volunteers.

You’re one of the few people that has a proper job. Nearly everyone else is some sort of desk monkey. How’s life?
I’m a self-employed jobbing carpenter. It would be a proper job if it netted me £25k and a company car; it doesn’t. However the holidays are wonderful and I can take time off to attend all those BMC meetings without complaints from the boss.

You have thirty seconds to make me want to climb at Swanage. Go!
It’s the sunniest place in Britain. It has Conger (E1), the best deep water solo of them all, and it’s home to Behemoth (HVS) - three stars are not enough for that route.

The last time I saw you, you were making off with a barrel of scrumpy - are all the stereotypes about Dorset people true?
The stereotypes about Dorset climbers may be true; we tend to have big arms and little need for perfect rock. As for Dorset people, it is all untrue. As I never tire of pointing out, cider comes from Somerset, pasties from Cornwall and cream teas from Devon. Dorset is for apple cake.

You must have got a lot of flak for those low grade (F2 and F3) bolted routes that you put up at Swanage.
It’s the phone call from a happy and grateful father, telling me that his 7 year-old daughter had just led her first route that I remember.

Tell me about a good book.
I’ve just read “Lifting the Lid”, a book all about composting toilets. It’s time we climbers stopped copying the bears, especially at places like the Roaches.

You go to National Council meetings throughout the year. Why is it relevant to climbers and walkers?
A lot of people don’t realise how direct the link from a member to National Council is. Come to an Area Meeting or talk to me, and two weeks later I can be raising your issue at the National Council, the policy maker for the BMC.

Chocolate flapjack, fruit slice or cream horn?
An ironically stereotypical pasty if you don’t mind.

« Back