Dave Gregory, 67, who put up many of the grit routes that folk now do at famous Peak crags, had a serious accident at the Roaches on Thursday. He fell while leading Central Route (VS 4a) at the Roaches Upper Tier - the unprotected route up the slab. Chris Craggs, who was with him (it was their sixth route of the day), says: "thankfully I had my mobile there. The air ambulance was there within 15 minutes and he was in hospital within the hour. Injuries include 8 broken ribs, 4 cracked vertebrae, at least one broken shoulder blade, a minor skull fracture, concussion and bruised lungs as well a variety of cuts and bruises." He's in intensive care, still being watched carefully. You'll find Dave's picture many times in the Stanage guidebook (doing Amazon Crack, for example) and Chatsworth guidebook (on Promontory Traverse); Dave is one of our links to climbing's great past. Cards can be sent to his wife Mary at 52 Cobnar Road, Woodseats, Sheffield.