Category Archives: History

A tragic day on Ben Nevis December 1954 – Interesting historical bits and pieces of RAF Mountain Rescue History.

Posted on August 15, 2017 by

The RAF Rescue Handbook – After the Lancaster Crash on Beinn Eighe Torridon in 1951 was a huge event and as it happened in full winter huge lessons were learned by the RAF Teams .The RAF teams which were still … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, SAR, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering | Leave a comment

The Skyline of Skye – some great hill songs what is yours?  

Posted on July 13, 2017 by

I have great memories of the mountains and in my early days with the RAF Teams we would sing in the pub after a hill day. That is what folks did in the 70’s seemingly. We all had to learn … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, History, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Music & Cinema, Rock Climbing, Views Mountaineering | 2 Comments

I am so glad I always took photos on the hills! What was your favourite old camera?

Posted on May 16, 2017 by

It is not hard to take photos nowadays the simple camera phone /digital revolution makes it so easy to take photos on the hill. I have always carried a camera and broken so many over the years but that is … Continue reading →

Posted in Equipment, Family, Friends, Gear, History, Ice climbing Canada, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering | Leave a comment

Some Old rock climbing gear – basic ropes,simple harnesses, no helmets, and limited protection

Posted on March 16, 2017 by

Sadly I had done no climbing when I joined the RAF mountain Rescue and my pride and joy was when I got issued with 2 Scott karabiners, a screw gate and my Yellow belt. What was that yellow belt called? … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Gear, History, Mountain rescue, Rock Climbing, SAR, SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering | Leave a comment

RAF Kinloss/Leuchars MRT – gone but not forgotten?

Posted on January 24, 2017 by

I am working on a lecture about Resilience in Edinburgh in February. “LEADERSHIP IN A CRISIS – HOW DO YOU PREPARE YOUR TEAMS FOR THE WORST” and it is amazing how many characters mould you in life and beyond and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Equipment, Family, Friends, History, Lectures, Lockerbie, Mountain rescue, SAR, Views Mountaineering | Leave a comment

Heading to Bairgowerie for a talk to the Tayside MRT.

Posted on December 9, 2016 by

I am off on my travels to Blairgowerie to talk to the Tayside Mountain Rescue. I will visit the late Al MacLeod’s Mum my best pal who was killed on a fall on the North Face of the Materhorn it … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Avalanche info, Equipment, Family, Friends, Himalayas/ Everest, History, Ice climbing Canada, Lectures, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, SAR, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather | Leave a comment

We follow “in the footsteps of giants” The Cairngorm Disaster 1971 – article from The Scottish Saltire Branch 

Posted on November 24, 2016 by

Thank you for all the correspondence on the tragedy on the Cairngorms in 1971 I have been given a lot of information on the tragedy by many different people involved. There is lots written on it as it was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Enviroment, History, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather | 6 Comments