Neal Ingram – Fells  Guru and Overall Controller

It was very hard to find someone of Dave's calibre to move the Fells on, but in Neal we had a willing victim!  Gullible and able.  Neal has projected the Fells into cyberspace (computers for those like me not used to jargon).  Dave tries to bring Neal back down to earth but this pocket dynamo soon blasts off again.  [Ed's Note - Energy personified, paperwork galore, Neal controls everything with a firm but fair hand.  All suggestions generally ignored! (Joke!)]

Danny/Pauline McNee and Jo - Start and Finish Controllers/Badges

Years of experience and hours of toil mean that Danny, Jo and team move with unerring efficiency, much to the chagrin of the scouts who hope to pull a fast one and gain some time.  Controlled with iron rod dedication, they are catapulted out of the starting blocks only for some to set off the wrong way - much to Danny & co's amusement and the scouts embarrassment.  [Ed’s Note - Equipped for all eventualities and the scouts who think they know it all - no prizes for the winners and losers here]

Frank Cook – King of the Airways (Radio)

A mobile mountain of a man, Frank is immovable - try it at your peril.  I have a list of those whose names are no more!  A great character to avoid, or walk round is your best chance of getting on with Frank.  The problem comes when you ask innocently for a radio, to receive a battering of such ferocity about radio technique you wish you'd volunteered for the catering! [Ed’s Note - Frank likes his peace and quiet, just make sure you like Frank to have his peace and quiet too otherwise Frank is like a docile giant in a tank's disguise, mistake one for the other and you are doomed. (You are probably doomed anyway!).]

Mike Grayson – Map Controller

In an ever-evolving event - people move around and take on new responsibilities and so Mike has taken over the reins from the legendary Tom Hall (who will still be helping).  Mike is learning fast what it is like to be at the front end of a battering from 100 or so scouts who think their map reading is superb, only to be gently destroyed by Mike asking them what a compass is!  [Ed’s Note - We know Mike and his new team will handle the scouts with aplomb and send them on their way wishing they had listened to the mapping instructions given to them by their Scout Leader (if they had any at all that is!).]

Graham Annan & Team – Route Planner

Graham, with a lack of foresight, wisdom and common sense, took on the role of planning the route with his band of merry men.  Two years of planning the route has made Graham a much wiser man.  Our thanks (and commiserations) go out to Graham because he is doing a great job involving a lot of time (and probably some energy)   [Ed’s Note - this is one of the unseen roles, which takes a lot of time and planning.  Please tell him how well he has done (even if you don't agree!)].

Body Wagon and Driver

This fine body of men (and some not so fine) are dedicated to finding any lost or injured scouts and transporting them to the overnight site.  Our job is to find the Body Wagon and send them on to find the scouts.  A testing time for us all.  Hopefully all will pass their driving tests in the near future (Joke!)  [Ed’s Note - Tireless, they are often caught napping.

Martin Hunter/Simon Blood/Richard Marshall - Rear Sweep Team

Ravenspur have been pillars of support right from the start of the Fells and without them, the event would be better - sorry I mean worse!  They set off after the last teams have left hoping the teams know where they are going so they can follow them and have a comfortable couple of days on the Fells.  Sadly like starting an Aston Martin DB9 they have to call upon their turbo charged energy and blast into action when the scouts walk off the map!  Quick and efficient (they don't want to miss the pub in the evening - its part of their contract!  [Ed’s Note - they know precisely what they are doing - they just wish the scouts did as well!]

John/Laurie/Graham/Henry and Claire – Middle Sweep Team

This middle sweep team is another set of stalwarts (sadly now without Bob) who have supported the event for donkeys years and what a tribute they are too.  They rely on each other to know what they are doing which means no-one really has a clue.  This helps the event in case we have to go looking for a sweep team (joke).  I am sure that they are very talented and will let you know when we find out what their talents are!  [Ed’s Note - having planned the route as well they should home in to each checkpoint with unerring accuracy - watch this space though.]

Brenda Marshall – Zero Tolerance Catering Star

Many years of serving the Fells has made Brenda a cooking legend.  Brenda is hoping to have her own Scouting TV Show to show how to cook for a few hundred people with simple techniques, basically get someone else to do most of the work and you take the credit.  This is the stuff of legends, which Brenda is!  Brenda carefully prepares the same menu as the last 50 years and then presents it to the multitude to eat.  No-one dares argue with Brenda, as it is more than their porridge is worth! [Ed’s Note - years of toil have made Brenda a force to be reckoned with, just don't and you will remain intact!]

John Gould, Dave Shackleton & Team – Overnight Camp Connoisseurs

John although not an official Camp Warden (only qualified for traffic - so don't park your car near or on him!) has got together a fine bunch of men/women to help run the overnight camp from Market Weighton.  John has a good sense of humour, which is appreciated by no-one and has agreed to practice more.  [Ed’s Note - Not to be tangled with at any cost, due to the fact that you might win and we would have no overnight camp.]

Roy Howarth – Certificates

This man is a testimony to someone who can get things done without appearing to move.  Roy can do the 100 yards if you give him all day, but he will get there.  Roy is one of these guys where laid back does not sum him up, more like horizontal.  He provides great assistance in writing the certificates and practices with his pen so he does not run out of energy.

Paul Wharram & Team – Kit Check Controllers

Seasoned campaigned (taught the current Chief Scout, Bear Grylls all they knew, sadly this was not much and he had to go off and teach himself!)  Great bunch, like a pack of wolves they will not let you go until all your kit is fully checked and accurate, otherwise they will devour you.  For information on teams who failed the kit check see the 'Hall of Shame' link on the website.  Don't get your names added!  [Ed’s Note - polished and brushed up this team could make it big time; alas some things are impossible!]