ON Pendle Hill there is a cairn dedicated to the memory of two Clayton Harriers. This month marks the fifth anniversary of the tragic death of Judith Taylor from Blackburn, while competing in the Kentmere Horseshoe fell race.

Despite her careful preparation, map and compass reading skills, and considerable experience running on the fells, she was one of many to have problems in blizzard conditions. She had found her way down below the cloud base but died of hypothermia in sight of safety.

Husband Phil had planned to attempt the Bob Graham round later that summer, a feat that involves climbing 42 Lakeland summits in 24 hours. The route involves 72 miles of mountainous terrain and 27,000 feet of climbing.

Judith had practised most of it with him, and Phil, supported by team mates from Clayton Harriers, went ahead with the run as planned as a tribute, just nine weeks after her death.

He wrote a book about the experience called 'Judith's Run,' and launched it at Judith's commemorative race on Pendle Hill in August the same year. On the day of the race, news came through that another Clayton Harrier, Alan Heywood, had been rushed to hospital suffering from hypothermia while climing Mont Blanc. Sadly, it was later confirmed that he had died. Alan had been a friend of the Taylors and had planned to be part of Phil's support team on his epic run. In the event, he had not been able to go but sent his famous fluorescent lamp, which features in the book.

Members of Clayton Harriers commissioned a memorial stone for the pair and set it in a cairn which they rebuilt. Pendle Hill was chosen because of Judith's great love of the area.

The location is Mearley Moor at the top of the first climb of one of her favourite runs. Fell runners will know it as a checkpoint on both the Pendleton fell race and the Tour of Pendle.

Judith's race and Phil's book together raised over £5,000 to buy patient monitoring equipment for the Kendal Mountain Search and Rescue Team. Copies of 'Judith's Run' are still available.

Please write c/o 64 Saunders Road, Blackburn BB2 6NP.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.