THE BEGINNINGS OF CASEG FRAITH
The following report appeared in the September 1998
Newsletter:
At the AGM in 1958, as reported in Newsletter no. 40:
Professor Huggett, President of ULMC, announced that he had
finally obtained enough money to build the ULMC hut in the
form of a donation of £1,000 from an anonymous donor,
although he was still 30 short of the estimate. He had
signed the contract for work to commence on a truncated
version of the original plan two weeks before. Various
details had yet to be settled. In particular, who would run
the hut, who were to be the Custodian and Caretaker, what
income would there be to maintain the hut? In answer to the
last, he thought there would be sufficient income from
letting out the hut to such bodies as CCPR and from ULMC
meets, which made on average a profit of £20. He considered
that the graduate club had an important part to play in the
management of the hut. Unlike ULMC, the graduate club had a
stable membership and a continuity of responsibility. The
(then) LGMC should co-operate with the undergraduate club
to give it a sense of personality. It would be an idea to
set up a special committee of the affiliated clubs of ULMC
to share the responsibility of running the hut. Practical
policies and ideas would be required.
Stella Berkeley suggested that LGMC donate a further £10 to
the hut fund - (leaving only 20 to raise) and that
affiliated clubs be asked to donate equipment. Professor
Huggett thanked LGMC and said he already had some promises
for domestic equipment, but technical equipment such as
ropes etc would be needed. He mentioned that Convocation
had donated £200 for the provision of running water in the
hut, and that the trustees work of the hut would be taken
over by the University. Some discussion of the letting of
the hut followed. Dr Butler, on behalf of ULMC, said that
only a certain proportion of the beds would be let out at
any one time to other clubs. The estimated accommodation of
the hut would be 27 in the truncated version, 12 in bunks
and 15 in the attic. The complete version of the hut would
take 40 bunks and an infinite number in the attic.
It was later suggested that the annual dinner be held
outside London, for the first time, and as a result, the
AGM and dinner were held at the Pen y Gwryd Hotel, in Capel
Curig, on 26 November 1960 - costing 15/6d per head.
The Hut was not ready for use by the AGM, and by February
1961, Newsletter no.43 reported - The Hut is usable as it
stands but is pretty bleak inside. It seems that ULMC were
promised gifts of furnishings which have not materialised.
Work will still have to be done on the basic furnishings
after the builders officially hand over. Such fixed items
as cupboards, shelves etc will have to be made, probably on
the spot, and to get such jobs done the Hut Committee will
be asking for working parties. Will anyone who can help
with this sort of work please get in touch with the Hon.
Secretaries indicating at what times they might be able to
go to North Wales for this purpose. At the moment, 3 or 3
heavy old-fashioned tables with chairs and benches will be
needed, together with quantities of cutlery, strong china
and cooking utensils. If anyone has anything to spare after
spring cleaning their kitchens, or if any such items can be
obtained cheaply at local auction sales, the Hut Committee
would be very glad to have them. Items such as tables might
be a problem to transport, though it is sometimes possible
to take them to pieces and re-erect on site. Alternatively,
it might be possible to find someone who would move them on
the roof of a car or van going to North Wales.
In May 1961, Newsletter no.44 announced: As regards the
name of the Hut many possibilities have been canvassed and
the choice seems to rest with ‘Caseg Fraith’
which is the name of a Llyn about a mile away. The work of
equipping the hut seems to progress very slowly. Although
various fittings such as the stoves are ready, they have
not yet been installed . . . Various items such as an
"Elsan" have been presented. A snag has appeared about
electricity as it seems the local board were raising
difficulty over the supply. It is hoped that the problem
will be solved by negotiation. In view of the incomplete
state of the hut the present charge is 1/6d per night
instead of 2/6d as originally fixed.
Despite these problems, Caseg Fraith Hut was finally opened
on 28 October 1961 by Professor G I Finch. A dinner was
held in Llanberis to mark the occasion, and between 60 and
70 ULMC members slept at the hut for the weekend.
The amount of background material on Caseg Fraith in the
Club Archives is still remarkably sparse – the
newsletter editor would be very grateful if anyone could
fill in the gaps.