After 45 years of service in the outdoor education sector Mike Margeson is retiring from a career with the YMCA at Lakeside near Newby Bridge.
115 current and ex-Lakeside staff gathered to celebrate his retirement on Saturday (9 November). Mike also used the event as an opportunity to raise £800 by giving an Alpine lecture and organising a raffle. The funds will help to provide subsidised places for local children on the centre’s Day Camps.
Since 2013, Mike has been the Program Operations & Safety Manager at YMCA Lakeside, responsible for recruiting, training and inspiring the centre’s outdoor education instructors. Alongside this, Mike and his team ensure the safe operation of the 50 different land and water-based activities that up 8,000 children and young people take part in each year.
Mike, who began his career with the YMCA in 1982 as an outdoor education instructor, said:
“Apart from a mid-carrier break doing other outdoor based roles, I’ve held five different jobs under nine different bosses at YMCA Lakeside. In that time, I’ve seen three significant building improvement projects, and it’s been a privilege to work with so many wonderful colleagues at one of Europe’s largest outdoor centres. I’ve spent the last year working alongside my successor, Dr Martin Barry, our new Senior Operations Manager.”
Outside of his YMCA Lakeside role, Mike has dedicated over 40 years to national and local mountain rescue earning him an OBE in 2021. He is still a member of his local team, the Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team. His retirement will also see him continue work as a mountaineering instructor and technical advisor. Mike has recently been appointed a Trustee of the Threlkeld based Mountain Heritage Trust whose remit is preserving British mountaineering heritage to inspire and educate.
Mike’s love for adventure has seen him climb and lead groups all over the world including Africa, Iceland, Norway, North and South America, and the European Alps.
Godfrey Owen from YMCA Lakeside said:
“Mike is a passionate educator, and outdoor education leader. He’s helped to ensure the longevity of Lakeside, including post Covid when over 40 outdoor centres closed for ever. He is recognised as a leader in the use of outdoor learning and he is a strong advocate for the huge benefits an outdoor experience brings to young people. That also extends to providing high quality training to our instructors, the next generation who go on to work across the UK and Europe.
“Mike’s legacy is promoting very high standards in outdoor education and learning. It has been an absolute privilege working alongside him, and he will be missed by all.”
