Paddy Heron RIP – Incredible character and great pal to many who loved the wild places, climbers, walkers, bikers and canoeists.

Can you please share this notice from. Susan Hernon

If anyone is needing accommodation please contact myself or David Heron.

PADDY HERON, 17/03/42 – 08/11/17

It is with great sadness to write of the death of Paddy Heron, founder and managing director of Inchree. Born locally in Ardgour, on St. Patrick’s Day to Irish parents, Paddy was a civil engineer by trade.

In the early 70’s he had the foresight to buy a large piece of ground from the Forestry Commission, midway between Glencoe & Fort William. Over the decades, he painstakingly developed the site into what it is today, a busy tourism centre that has welcomed thousands of guests from all over the world.

Through time & personality, he established, alongside other family members, a large network of regular guests to Inchree. Many of them may not have been aware just how ill Paddy was, as typically, he insisted on keeping working & overseeing – almost right to the end.

He succumbed peacefully after a long battle against myeloma, surrounded by his family.

A funeral service will take place from 1pm on Friday 17th November at St. Mary’s RC Church in Fort William. (on Belford Road, next to hospital. Parking available directly across at long-stay car park)
Internment afterwards at Innes na Birlinn Cemetery, (half-mile north of Inchree, on A82) followed by food, refreshments and craic at Four Seasons Pub, Inchree.

Anyone who knew Paddy and who wishes to come and pay their respects is most welcome.

Accommodation is also available at Inchree, if required. Please just get in touch.

Many thanks for all your messages, very much appreciated by all of us at this sad time. Am sorry if I haven’t got back to you.

Paddy Heron –  A great friend of so many Outdoor lovers.

If anyone is needing accommodation please contact myself or David Heron.

Sadly I heard of the passing of a real character Paddy Heron from Inchree Onich. Paddy was the owner of one the first Bunkhouses in Scotland it was ideally situated near Glencoe and Ben Nevis with stunning views of Ardgour. It offered reasonable accommodation at a fair price at Inchree it became the place to stay.. I first met Paddy in the early 80’s when I was with the RAF Mountain Rescue Teams. During and before this period there was much unemployment in the UK and many young men had no jobs a few started to climb. Onich and Inchree became a centre for these “Thatchers Dole climbers” The Giro climbers where many became based and gradually some of the best climbers of their era began to arrive and Paddy became a huge father figure to many. In these days there was dole money and many had to go home to collect their money and then returned to Onich.

Paddy

They were a real bunch of young tigers all on a mission to push the standards on rock and ice and move things on. Some of the great climbers of the day like Cubby Cuthbertson, “The Brat” Mosity, Mark Charlton,  Lee, Kev Howett, The twins, Pam and Tom Mac and so many others arrived and it became a true community ” the crazy crew”. Now Paddy always smoked a pipe and was a real character, pipes were allowed then and he was always straight to the point never short of an opinion. In these days he was definitely not worried about how controversial his views or his thoughts  were yet what a bond grew between this group and Paddy. The Bunkhouse became a base for many lovers of the outdoors,  climbers, canoeists, mountain Bikers, travellers and walkers over the years and it is incredible that this wild community of such differing folk all got on well. As with all young men there was the odd bit of trouble with the establishment but Paddy sorted things out with his incredible skill as a peacemaker.    There was a climbing wall on the bunkhouse wall that was very busy after the pub and a big social gathering for many.

Few would imagine that the RAF Mountain Rescue Team would meet and become great friends with this wild band of climbers. Yet Paddy introduced us and many of the RAF team were very similar in outlook and great bonds were formed between us. Paddy had looked after the RAF Rescue teams and we used the bunkhouse and later on the rooms and chalets for the RAF Winter Courses. He could not believe we slept on the floor on village halls with no showers. We became good friends and used the facilities which had grown into a busy family business with Chalets, new accommodation, pub and restaurant over the years. We did many a callout from here and many times Paddy looked after us after a sad callout. As time moved many of these climbers became pillars of the establishment yet the Inchree   pub became a place where so many came back to from trips to all over the World. Glenmore Lodge the National Outdoor Centre  also used Inchree often and they became a regular customer as well. Many Mountaineering Clubs used Inchree  and very time you arrived there were many familiar faces. There were so many who returned and Paddy loved their stories and the chat the debates on politics, life religion and current affairs out in the smoking shelter. This became his debating chamber his podium where nothing was sacred and everything was discussed. At times  we had such differing views at times it was so interesting to listen to Paddy articulate his views usually in acloud of smoke. There were many foreign travellers and workers using the facilities and Paddy loved meeting them each with a different view on life. Over the years I got to know Paddy and the family very well and became a good friend, the house was always open and we had some parties over the years. I would meet Paddy going for his paper or in his battered van parked up (just)smoking his pipe talking to everyone he was a huge character in the area. He was such a communicator he would frighten you with his knowledge on any subject and his views were legendary they got better with the politics of the day Independence and Brexit.

The family are shocked to lose Paddy, he has a long fight with Cancer and few understood how ill he was. Paddy was still driving his van round the site until recently, he was as always stubborn and very brave at the end few knew the pain he was in yet he battled on and said little.

Only now are the family aware of what an influence he was on everyone Paddy was a real character, a proud Irish red-blooded man’s man. As the days go by the tales will come in of Paddy and his life please share them as they will give great support to his wife Val, Sue, David, Jim, Amy, Mike and the rest of the family.

Paddy Heron

My  thoughts and condolences to the family from all your pals in the RAF Mountain Rescue and the many civilian Mountain ReTeams that have used Inchree over the years.

Thanks Paddy for all the assistance over the years and for help forming so many of our characters.

There will never be another Paddy Heron.

.

Heavy Whalley Ex RAF Mountain Rescue Team Leader RAF Kinloss and RAF Leuchars.