PRACTICE MEET, RIDGE FARM, SEPTEMBER 2025

Practice Meet: 13th September 2025

Venue: Ridge Farm, Diggle

It was a very welcome return to Ridge Farm for the September PM when seven members of the branch chanced the scattered sunny intervals between very heavy showers, so much so that an early lunch was called while a downpour passed overhead.

6 metres of wall, including a cheek end, were stripped out, prepared and rebuilt up to the first lift level.

The afternoon brought a number of visitors, including local artist John Hewitt, who took photos of our work in progress for future inspiration. “

Ian Smith

John Hewitt, Artist

The Lancashire Branch members have been very privileged to have their walling captured over recent years in more than a dozen pen and ink sketches by local illustrator and Limner, John Hewitt.

Now retired from lecturing at Manchester Metropolitan University, for many years, John drew a daily sketch in small pocket notebooks which he would then publish on his Instagram page. These sketches were often accompanied by fascinating snippets of local history and social commentary. His illustrations have been widely published and exhibited. John has a knack for capturing the important details in his sketches with an accuracy that is uncanny – even the bolts holding the clamps onto the pins are correctly positioned. His IG posts are often accompanied by the latest exploits of Lenny, who enjoys “thrutching” through any long grass or heather he can find on his daily walks, plus the famous “ghost buses” of Marsden Moor! Whilst John no longer does a daily sketch, he does still sketch regularly, and his posts can be found at https://www.instagram.com/w_john_hewitt/

Kathy England

Drawing courtesy of John Hewitt