As a fresh-faced 18-year-old starting university in Newcastle, I decided I quite fancied joining a sports society. But after arriving at hockey trials and being scared off by the team’s (far) superior skills, I realised I needed to turn my attention to something more “beginner-friendly”. Enter climbing. Not hanging-off-towering-rock-faces climbing, but indoor climbing – the warmer, fuzzier version.
With equipment readily (and cheaply) available for hire, an “all abilities welcome” vibe and the very real prospect of a post-climb pint, I was in. Had there been an LGBT club like Not So Trad at my university, I’d have been doubly in.
NOT SO TRAD