President Roly Smith, left, presents the Williamses with the award, which takes the form of an original painting of Scafell by guild member David Bellamy. Photo: Jon Sparks
A former City accountant and his wife have joined a group of outdoor luminaries that includes Everest summiteers Sir Chris Bonington and Doug Scott.
Jonathan and Lesley Williams may not be familiar names to outdoors enthusiasts, but their company’s books are likely to grace the shelves of many a walker and climber.
The pair took over Cicerone Books in 1999 and their contribution to the great outdoors was rewarded by the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild, which presented the Milnthorpe-based publishers with its Golden Eagle award at the guild’s recent annual dinner in Lancaster.
The award is made for distinguished contribution to the outdoors world. As well as the two famous mountaineers, other recipients have included Sir David Attenborough and the late Chris Brasher.
Guild president Roly Smith said at the event: “When Jonathan and Lesley Williams took over Cicerone Press from Walt Unsworth and Brian Evans in 1999, there were more than a few raised eyebrows.
“The story swiftly went round the small community which is the outdoor world that Jonathan was a City accountant – so what would he know or care about the outdoors?
“It didn’t take long for Jonathan and Lesley to prove both the sceptics wrong and their credentials as active and knowledgeable outdoor lovers. The string of new and re-designed guides they produced – and they keep coming at the rate of about 30 a year – quickly confirmed Cicerone’s position as the leading footpath guide publisher in Britain.
“An unqualified love of the outdoors has seen Cicerone commit a four-figure sum each year to the Fix the Fells footpath restoration project in the Lake District, and sponsor mountain safety leaflets.
“It was this generous spirit of wanting to ‘give something back’ which, I am sure, was behind Jonathan and Lesley’s nomination for this year’s Golden Eagle.”
Mr Williams said that he and Lesley were interpreting the award as being for ‘Cicerone as a whole’.
Other awards went to Terra Nova’s Laser Photon, said to be the world’s lightest double-wall tent, which won the guild’s Derryck Draper award for innovation in the outdoors; Vivienne Crow who picked up two awards for her feature Special Report – Skiddaw House and guidebook The Lake District; and Granite and Grit by Ronald Turnbull which won the outdoor book accolade.
Judy Armstrong won the travel feature award for The Journey Home; Ed Ewing’s Brazil’s Best Carnival picked up the words and pictures title and Andy Latham won the photography prize with his Reserved Landscapes.
The Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, represents leading creative professionals who specialise in the outdoors.
