Category Archives: Lockerbie

Guilt or Gratitude missing out on big Callouts ? By Pete Kirkpatrick

Posted on March 20, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

GUILT OR GRATITUDE This is a interesting article that I think many of us in the Emergency Agencies who may feel they miss out on a big incident. This happens as family,holidays, sickness and many other things may stop you … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Lockerbie, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, SAR, SARDA, Views Political?, Well being | 1 Comment

Today is the Lockerbie Anniversary Disaster Tragedy. A hard day for many. Help is out there #itsgoodtotalk

Posted on December 20, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

It’s been a difficult year for me a lot of medical problems and very hard at times controlling the “Black Dog”is always there. Today is a huge day in my life it is the Anniversary of the Lockerbie Disaster in … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Family, Friends, Lockerbie, Media, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Recomended books and Guides, Views Political?, Well being | 4 Comments

Old pals reunited .

Posted on July 15, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

It’s great to meet folk again ! Yesterday I met 3 old pals and had a cup of tea in Forres. Tom Taylor organised it as Bill Gault was up visiting with his wife Roberta. Bill was our Boss he … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Lockerbie, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Views Mountaineering, Views Political?, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

1988 Piper Alpha disaster.

Posted on July 6, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I remember this tragedy with sadness as I knew one of those who died. Gareth Watkins’s was in the RAF Kinloss MRT with me in the 70’s. He was a lovely man and left the RAF to work in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, Lockerbie, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering, Views Political?, Well being | 2 Comments

Off to do a talk on “Well – Being”. A extremely important subject for all the emergency services .

Posted on March 3, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I am off to chat to some Emergency Agencies on Well – Being. I hope a few will take away some tips on dealing with a subject not often spoken about being part of being in an Emergency Service. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Family, Friends, Health, Lockerbie, Media, Mountaineering, People | 4 Comments

Lockerbie another year on and the pain is still there.

Posted on December 21, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Today is the Anniversary of the Lockerbie Disaster in 1988. I was the Team Leader of the RAF Leuchars Mountain Rescue Team. My first stint as TeamLeader and I had a great young team. We were involved in so many … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Cycle to Syracuse Training, Lockerbie, Media, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Well being | 6 Comments

Don’t get down – There’s lots of good news about. Cairngorm Mountain Rescue did a great job in wild weather and I had a visit from one of the Ladies of Lockerbie.

Posted on December 6, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Yesterday I had returned from a couple of days away at Achnasheen in a bothy. I was a bit down as I had hurt my leg falling in a big hole covered in fresh snow. I also had an upset … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Friends, Lockerbie, Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

The Stress bottle – before counselling?

Posted on July 6, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Most years sadly we assisted many Mountain Rescue Teams with taking fatal casualties of the mountains. I do know it effected me over the years. Yet in these days it was just get on with it. At time’s despite your … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Friends, Lockerbie, medical, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Well being | 17 Comments

Beinn Eighe – early start to make the best of the weather. First Munro’s for a while ( over a year). A visit to the Lancaster crash in Corrie Mhic Fhearchair.

Posted on June 16, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

“Any chance of a day out on the hill” I get these questions now and again. I have a friend who joined the RAF Leuchars Mountain Rescue Team in the 80’s as a very young lad when I was Team … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Corbetts and other hills, Equipment, Flora, Friends, Hill running and huge days!, Lockerbie, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, People, Poems, Recomended books and Guides, SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Willie Mac – Local boy retires a big thanks from RAF MR and your old mates.

Posted on April 9, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

I met Willie Mac as a young lad from Harris who joined the RAF Leuchars MRT, he was enticed to join by Stampy a tiger in his day. He worked in Workshops and had not long joined the RAF. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Bothies, Enviroment, Equipment, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Friends, Gear, Himalayas/ Everest, History, Lockerbie, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Munros, People, Rock Climbing, Views Mountaineering, Well being | 3 Comments