WHO IS STAG (and Little Eric & Southey)


Being the authors and main characters in the adventures, we had better tell you a bit about ourselves. The inspiration to go walking comes from Alfred Wainwright who wrote the superb series of Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells detailing 214 summits. Now come rain, shine, wind and snow nothing will stop us hopping into Dad’s rucksack and going on our adventures. We have had our photograph taken many times, as it has become a tradition that Dad takes it on every summit at least!
We should add that we are part of a large Hug (the collective name for Teddy Bears) of about 600. While we are the intrepid explorers of the mountains, some of our other friends go on holidays. Their adventures too, are told on this site.
Look under 'Other Hug Tales' on the home page.

SHAUN

I am the founder member of STAG and the only non bear in the club, having been adopted by Dad on 24th February 1997. I act as guide, reading the map and issuing instructions to Dad to ensure we keep on route.
I completed the Wainwright Fells on 24th July 2007, climbing Silver How. I completed the Wainwright Outlying Fells on 10th December 2009. I completed the Howgills challenge on 3rd November 2010.
I completed the Birkett challenge on 14th August 2013.

TETLEY

Dad adopted me on 27th June 1998 in Leeds, Yorkshire. Leeds is the home of the Joshua Tetley brewery so you can see where my name came from. I have a knack of remembering dates and details of walks and summits etc., to the amazement of my other pals. I completed the Wainwright Fells on 24th July 2007, climbing Silver How. I completed the Wainwright Outlying Fells on 10th December 2009. I completed the Howgills challenge on 3rd November 2010. I completed the Birkett challenge on 14th August 2013.

GRIZZLY

I was adopted by Dad on 1st July 2004 from Aunt Wendy Sue. I am one of only three like me in the world. My other cousins live in America and New Zealand. Research is my forte, providing my pals with information about places we see and visit. I also like baking the cakes with Little Eric. I completed the Wainwright Fells on 24th June 2009, climbing Knott in the Northern Fells. I completed the Wainwright Outlying Fells on 10th December 2009. I completed the Howgills challenge on 3rd November 2010. I completed the Birkett challenge on 14th August 2013.

ALLEN

I was adopted by Dad on 25th August 2004. My given name was Henry but he already had a bear called Henry so he decided to re-christen me. As I have my own rucksack with rope and ice axe he wanted to give me a name more appropriate to the mountains. So I am named after Allen Crags, alphabetically the first of the Wainwright Fells. I am like Dad, loving tea and the cakes made by Grizzly and Little Eric. I prefer there not be sheep pictures in the stories, except our lovely Herdwicks that live on the Lakeland Fells. I completed the Wainwright Outlying Fells on 10th December 2009. I completed the Wainwright Fells on 19th August 2010, climbing Grisedale Pike. I completed the Howgills challenge on 3rd November 2010. I completed the Birkett challenge on 14th August 2013.

photo Wendy Sue Wilkinson

ERIC

I was adopted by Dad on 1st March 2008, a birthday present from Aunt Wendy Sue. She made me a woollen hat and scarf, and gave me a stick intending me to join the walking club. I am just 3 inches tall, so can easily snuggle in to Dad's rucksack by Tetley & Allen. I joined the club on 2nd March 2008, and climbed to my first summit Whernside, 2415ft, the highest in the Yorkshire Dales. It was an extremely windy day but nevertheless I stood on my own by the trig point for my photograph. I am a postbox aficionado and am always looking out for them in the villages we pass through - they make a colourful picture in the stories. With Grizzly, I love to bake the cakes. I completed the Howgill challenge on 9th June 2013. I completed the Wainwright Outlying Fells on 26th June 2014.

SOUTHEY

I was adopted on 14th July 2013 from the Wordsworth Hotel, Grasmere, when Dad went to visit, to see Kim, who had moved to work there from Armathwaite Hall. He spotted me amongst other of my cousins, and insisted that I was the one, and named me after one of the famous Lakeland poets. Little did I know what an exciting life I was to lead. I don't know why but I took to sitting with STAG, and it was lovely to hear them tell me about their adventures over the years. Then one day I asked if I could come along too. Dad found a place for me in the front pouch of the rucksack, and I went on by first adventure on 14th September 2013, climbing to four summits including Raven Crag which was my first Wainwright. Thereafter I did not go on every walk, that was until early January 2014, when I was formerly welcomed to the walking club, and now go on every walk. Coming from the Lake District, I am never happier than to be with STAG and Little Eric on the Lakeland Fells. I help Shaun with the map reading and giving directions to Dad.

And the boring stuff - the statistics.

Name First walked No. of walks Distance walked (miles) No. of summits First Wainwright Date climbed
Shaun 15/02/1998 1005 7698.25 1517 Black Crag on Black Fell 15/02/1998
Tetley 08/08/1998 998 7653.75 1510 Bonscale Pike 14/02/2002
Grizzly 06/07/2004 851 6282.75 1402 Ullock Pike 06/07/2004
Allen 03/02/2005 822 6055.50 1317 Little Mell Fell 14/02/2005
Little Eric 02/03/2008 656 4776.45 869 Gowbarrow Fell 02/04/2008
Southey 14/09/2013 408 2860.75 291 Raven Crag 14/09/2013
Oh, and Dad 25/05/1980 1180 8806.50 1615 Helvellyn 10/08/1982

We all hope that you enjoy our stories

STAG

Last updated - 18/03/2024

 

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