Rokpa UK Newslettters
The Spring 2007 Issue is now available online.
Our thanks to all those that supported the Grand Opening of ROKPA in London. The evening was a well attended exploration of the diverse work that ROKPA does, and a celebration of the beginnings of a London presence.
President Akong Rinpoche and Vice-President Lea Wyler welcomed BBC documentary maker Jill Dawson and acclaimed actor Charles Dance as Ambassadors for ROKPA. Everyone there was invited to an Open Forum on the 3rd of May to share ideas about the development of ROKPA’s work in London.
If you would like to contact the London group directly or come to a Forum of this nature in the future please email London@rokpa.org or write to ROKPA in London at; 28 Pilgrimage St, SE1 4LL.
This is the story of the first ascent of The Ogre (23,901 ft) by Doug Scott and Chris Bonington in July 1977.
VENUES & BOOKING:
Tickets available from May 15th
PEEBLES - Sunday 26th October - Eastgate Theatre - 7.30pm-9.30pm
Box Office: 01721 72577 10-2pm 6.30-730pm. Also online at www.thebooth
LANGHOLM – Monday 27th October – The Buccleugh Hall - 7.30pm-9.30pm
Box Office: 013873 81106
IRVINE - Tuesday 28th October - The Magnum - 7.30pm-9.30pm
Box Office: 01294 278381 or 271178
KELSO - Wednesday 29th October - The Tait Hall - 7.30pm-9.30pm
Tickets available from Brown’s Post Office: 01573 224269
DUMFRIES - Monday 3rd November - Easterbrook Hall, Crichton Campus - 7.30pm-9.30pm
Tickets available from Patties of Dumfries: 01387 252891.
Ticket bookings for all venues available at the ROKPA UK Office: 013873 73232 Ext 230. Email: charity@RokpaUK.org
The Ogre is situated in the Karakorum mountain range, North Pakistan. Doug and Chris reached the summit on July 13 via the south west spur to the west ridge and over the west summit to the main summit. The ascent of the summit block required very difficult rock climbing that extended the boundaries of what had been done at over 23,000 feet.
The descent was an epic as on the first abseil from the summit Doug broke both legs at the ankle and during the next eight days descent to base camp, a major storm raged. Chris also broke two ribs and contracted pneumonia. They were, however, able to reach base camp but had a long wait for assistance.
The Ogre is considered one of the hardest climbs in the world and it was 24 years before there was a second ascent.
Doug Scott is a mountaineer who founded the charity Community Action Nepal. He reached over 40 Himalayan summits, including Everest and Kangchenjunga, before taking an active interest in the welfare of the people who had, in effect, brought him relative fame and fortune.
For seven days in October the Buddhist Himalaya comes to the U.K. as the Rheged Mountaineering Centre in Cumbria, on the edge of the picturesque Lake District, plays host to a celebration of the Geography, Environment, People and Heritage of The Land of Snows.
Among the many attractions there will be Himalayan music and song, a craft market, films, lectures and exhibitions.
For the full programme and a detailed description of each event visit the Himalayan Festival Web site.
The Rokpa trip to Tibet in July was a great success. We travelled thousands of kilometres, up and down but mostly up, the highest point being 5,000 metres at the monastery of Dolma Lhakang. We met with wonderful hospitality everywhere, were looked after by the Trans-Himalaya team like royalty and had some experiences we will never forget.
Several Rokpa projects were visited including two schools: Kanze Girl's School and Palyul Orphanage School. The children are on school holidays in July so we only met the orphan children who are cared for at the schools as they do not have families to visit. We also visited Troru Tibetan Medical Clinic, Dege Printing Works, Palpung Monastery and Dolma Lhakang Monastery.
ROKPA UK Overseas Projects
Kagyu Samye Ling, Eskdalemuir, Langholm, Dumfriesshire DG13 0QL
Telephone: 013873 73232 Ext: 230
Fax: 013873 73223
email: charity@RokpaUK.org
ROKPA Trust Reg. Charity No: England & Wales (1059293): Scotland (SCO38628)