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John Allen (Read 17856 times)

sherlock

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#25 Re: John Allen
May 19, 2020, 03:58:28 pm
Stunned.RIP

gollum

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#26 Re: John Allen
May 19, 2020, 04:06:26 pm
A tragic loss of a climber who inspired so many.
RIP

Will Hunt

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#27 Re: John Allen
May 19, 2020, 04:14:57 pm
Great stories, Duncan.
I remember opening up my copy of Eastern Grit and looking for mid-grade classics. Allen and Bancroft's names stood out above all others. It seemed like every page bore John's mark, and seemingly always with proud lines. What a canvas to have in front of you as a gifted teenager the eastern edges must have been. Terrible news.

sherlock

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#28 Re: John Allen
May 19, 2020, 04:47:04 pm
Mrs S has just completed the BM 5A for the first time. She tells me she used a little extra chalk in memory of the famousMountain headline " John Allen frees Great Wall but uses Chalk".

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#29 Re: John Allen
May 19, 2020, 07:08:46 pm
I never met him but climbing West Side Story was (and still is) one of my proudest moments on grit.

He was great at the Peak Rock book launch where he explained why he called it West Side Story.

For anyone who wasn't there, 4 minutes in:


cowboyhat

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#30 Re: John Allen
May 19, 2020, 07:48:12 pm
The humour Duncan describes comes across in that clip, shame its an edit of what I imagine must have been a fun evening.

John Allen what a fucking ledge.

RIP

Stu Littlefair

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#31 Re: John Allen
May 19, 2020, 08:02:46 pm
I never met him sad to say. But, through his routes, the man gave me some of the most vivid memories of my life.

RIP

nik at work

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#32 Re: John Allen
May 19, 2020, 08:35:21 pm
Never met him, but his legacy is huge. A very sad loss RIP

tc

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#33 Re: John Allen
May 19, 2020, 08:37:19 pm
Heard the news today when I was up at Targasonne (granite, not grit - but close enough to the real thing and perfect for a quiet bit of bouldering and solitary contemplation as a token of remembrance). John was a legend, and one of the most gifted climbers I've ever seen. A sad day. My condolences to all who knew him.

Wood FT

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#34 Re: John Allen
May 19, 2020, 08:39:05 pm
I never met him but climbing West Side Story was (and still is) one of my proudest moments on grit.

He was great at the Peak Rock book launch where he explained why he called it West Side Story.

For anyone who wasn't there, 4 minutes in:



He owned the room that night

Mr_Cus

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#35 Re: John Allen
May 19, 2020, 08:48:13 pm
Totally gutted about this.

I'm probably not the person to set it up as I'm rarely on here or the other channel but could someone set up a justgiving account for donations to the family?

I would like to donate something, it seems like all I can do to show my sympathy to a family I have no contact with. I feel a need to contribute something to say thank you for being a legend of our sport.

Bradders

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#36 Re: John Allen
May 19, 2020, 09:51:46 pm
I never met him but climbing West Side Story was (and still is) one of my proudest moments on grit.

He was great at the Peak Rock book launch where he explained why he called it West Side Story.

For anyone who wasn't there, 4 minutes in:



Lovely stuff, thanks for that. Having taken the lob off the very top of West Side Story back in October I can't imagine the kind of talent, ability and nerve it would have required to do it when he did, without pads etc. A fantastic achievement and legacy to leave behind.

grimer

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#37 Re: John Allen
May 19, 2020, 09:58:27 pm
This is just so, so sad.

Wood FT

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#38 Re: John Allen
May 19, 2020, 10:14:46 pm
I never met him but climbing West Side Story was (and still is) one of my proudest moments on grit.

He was great at the Peak Rock book launch where he explained why he called it West Side Story.

For anyone who wasn't there, 4 minutes in:



He owned the room that night

7.00mins in, forgot that. So funny. Aw man I’m gutted.

steveri

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#39 Re: John Allen
May 21, 2020, 02:31:56 pm
I'd love to see a John Allen FA tick list.

I started putting one together before Paul from UKC offered to try and automate something. You can't help be struck by the sheer quality and depth.

shark

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#40 Re: John Allen
May 21, 2020, 02:39:31 pm
I started putting one together before Paul from UKC offered to try and automate something. You can't help be struck by the sheer quality and depth.

Apart from Night Owl!  :shit:  :lol:

SA Chris

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#41 Re: John Allen
May 21, 2020, 02:40:14 pm
Is there a photo of him on Moolah in an old guide? Remember looking at the photo in the guide thinking "that looks great" then looking at the route thinking "that looks nails"!

grimer

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#42 Re: John Allen
May 21, 2020, 04:51:44 pm
Yes, wearing a really strange shit looking pair of shoes. Moolah is awesome.

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#43 Re: John Allen
May 21, 2020, 05:35:59 pm

Moolah from the Stanage 89 guide

Sadly I never met him but his contribution to UK climbing can't be understated. This year gets worse and worse. RIP John

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#44 Re: John Allen
May 21, 2020, 07:23:10 pm
Yes, wearing a really strange shit looking pair of shoes. Moolah is awesome.

EB's that didnt quite catch on.

cowboyhat

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#45 Re: John Allen
May 22, 2020, 05:37:07 pm
For every new route it seems he had a strong look to match. Technical and sartorial vanguard

shark

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#46 Re: John Allen
May 22, 2020, 09:06:33 pm
Write up of John’s career by Keith Sharples

www.climber.co.uk/news/news/john-allen-god-of-grit-the-legend/

webbo

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#47 Re: John Allen
May 22, 2020, 09:29:48 pm
I think you will find that in the last picture it’s the late Simon Horrox eating the ice cream not the late John Bacher. He did the Nose and the South Face of Mount Watkins with John.

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#48 Re: John Allen
May 22, 2020, 11:07:36 pm
Lovely Yosemite photo, who took it? As Webbo says, that’s Simon Horrox with the ice cream and chocolate milk. On the same bench as John is another Brit. who I also climbed with. Paul Clarke?

Will Hunt

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#49 Re: John Allen
May 23, 2020, 12:26:39 am
I will ask Paul whether it's him, but if it isn't then they must have been separated at birth!

 

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