Masthead: Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust - "Providing quality mountain training for young people"

Our Patrons

Andy Cave and Sir Chris Bonington CBE

Sir Chris Bonington CBE

Sir Chris Bonington CBE
Since the Charity’s conception, by Jonathan’s father Michael Conville, and uncle David Conville OBE, and having the charity registered on 19th February 1986, they invited Sir Chris Bonington CBE as Patron. They were delighted when he accepted. As one of Britain’s most revered mountaineers, Sir Chris supported our work, and long-term vision to encourage and assist young people to train for and pursue their love of the outdoors, safely.
Sir Chris started rock climbing in his teens, and was commissioned in the Royal Tank Regiment in 1956. He then spent three years in North Germany, and went on as a mountaineer instructor, teaching at an Army Outward Bound School. It was during this time that he started climbing in the Alps. Sir Chris did work for Unilever as a Management Trainee, but realised that he could never combine a conventional career with his love of mountaineering. His biography of ascents are quite extraordinary, and worth reading on his website www.bonington.com , he is also an author of twenty books, and numerous TV documentaries, and became increasingly interested in the study of leadership, starting with his own experience as a successful expedition leader, and using this to explore a wider application. He completed a very successful management training video “Leading to the Top”, and for several years has lectured to the Sloan Programme of The London Business School and Cranfield University where he is a Visiting Fellow.

 

Andy Cave

Andy Cave
In 2007 Andy Cave became our second Patron. As a cutting edge alpinist with several formidable first ascents to his credit, we were delighted when he accepted to be our second Patron, and supporter of our Charity’s work. As one of Britain’s leading mountaineers, he also teaches, has a Phd in socio-linguistics and is an IFMGA International Mountain and Ski Guide. Andy has also written two books Thin White Line and Learning to Breathe. He devotes his time to motivational work with young people, helping them to achieve their full potential in their lives, so his work here in the Trust is an extension of that.
Andy said ” the Trust is something that I have valued and admired for years. Such service to young relatively inexperienced mountaineers is truly a great thing and I am sure Chris feels exactly the same way. The fact that it has been going for such a long time is brilliant, and a testimony to a lot of hard work and good organisation I am sure”. With a very hectic schedule Andy has managed to find time to accompany guides and participants in 2008 and 2009 Alpine courses in Argentierre. You can read more about Andy on his web site www.andycave.net

 

Winter essentials DVD

The Winter Essentials DVD shows the essential skills and techniques for winter mountaineering. The film follows a group of three winter mountaineers and a pair of winter climbers on a typical day out in the Scottish mountains. See how they cope with this potentially hazardous environment and what measures they take to ensure that they both enjoy the experience and return safely.

Following on from the film are 11 chapters that expand upon the good practice message, providing information on navigation, self arrest, clothing and equipment, use of ice axe and crampons, avalanche awareness and emergency procedures.

The film was jointly produced by the British Mountaineering Council, Mountain Leader Training England and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland. The JCMT provided financial support towards the production costs of the film. You can buy the DVD from the British Mountaineering on-line shop.

media: DVD BMC Safety & Video Training Clips

New Alpine essentials DVD

Looking to take your first steps on alpine terrain or sharpen up your alpine skills. If so, grab yourself a copy of the new Alpine Essentials DVD, jointly produced by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and the British Mountaineering Council, also sponsored by the Mountain Training Trust,the Catherine Smith Memorial Trust, the Ceinwen Faulkner Memorial Trust and the Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust.

The film shows the essential skills and techniques necessary for alpine mountaineering. It follows two mountaineers on a multi-day trip in the Swiss Alps – although the skills covered are appropriate for all glacial terrain. See how the mountaineers cope with their environment and what steps they take to both enjoy the experience and return safely. Separate skill-specific chapters cover glacier travel, abseiling, via ferrata, crevasse rescue, moving together and more. It also covers the all-important questions about kit and what to wear.

Copies can be obtained from the British Mountaineering Council online shop and outdoor retailers.

media: DVDBMC Safety & Video Training Clips

Thank you for donating your time and energy

  • Jon Garside BMC/MLTE Training Officer, for all his support of the Trust’s work
  • Plas y Brenin/Mountain Training Trust for providing all administration of the courses, and coordinating the guides in the Alps
  • All the guides who run our courses throughout each year in Scotland and the Alps
  • Rebecca Reid at Ardenbeg Bunkhouse and Outdoor Centre, Grantown-on-Spey, who accommodates students for the Scottish Winter Courses
  • All the Trustees of JCMT who give up their time and energy on a voluntary basis

Donations Given

·     BMC for their annual contribution towards the cost of the courses

 

·     The Scottish Mountaineering Trust who contribute to the Scottish Winter Courses on an annual basis.

 

 ·     Mrs J. Triger, whose son Dr Simon Triger died aged 31, on 10th September 2008 whilst climbing Mont   Blanc.  Mrs Triger asked friends and relatives to make donations to the JCMT in lieu of flowers, at Simon’s funeral.  In addition Sarah Green, and other friends of Simon made a sponsored trek up Ben Nevis, and donated the proceeds to the Trust.   

 

·     Mr  D. A. Jeffrey received a “Long Service Ward”  at Newcastle University having been employed for a period of 30 years, and opted to donate his award received to the JCMT.

 

·     For the continued support and donations from the University of Bristol Expeditions Society and Red Rope, Bristol.

 

·     ShareGift – The Orr Mackintosh Foundation

 

·     Mr and Mrs Michael Pitcairn asked for donations to the Trust in lieu of flowers at the funeral of their son Hugh, aged 20, who died climbing The Crotched Gully in the Cairngorms

  

·     Mr and Mrs David Ward and Sedbergh School where their son Bertie had been a former pupil, held a memorial service when he sadly died in a climbing while descending the west ridge of Mont Collon in Switzerland. The collection was donated to the JCMT.

  

·     All those past participants who have donated and supported our work having completed the courses, and individuals who have lost friends in climbing accidents and have made donations in their memory.

 

The British Mountaineering Council and the Trust

We have had a long and important association with the BMC, who work tirelessly for climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers in England and Wales. They subsidise our courses and have done all our administration up until the beginning of this year. For the last two years this has been under the direction of Jon Garside and his assistant Becky McGovern. We wish to thank them for their guidance, hard work and continued support. Without their help these courses would not have been possible.

To find our more about the BMC look at the BMC website.

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The BMC promotes and financially supports JCMT with an annual contribution.
Plas Y Brenin promotes and provides all administration and organisation of the JCMT courses.