In the early spring of 1951 Mike Nixon, team member of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team, climbed Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis in late winter conditions, aged 25. All he remembers of that trip was Tower Gap and the camaraderie of his climbing partners; Gunter Franz, Pip Richardson, and Des Oliver. All 4 were members of Keswick Mountaineering Club, and soon after became members of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.
On the 31st May 2008 Mike Nixon MBE, team member and President of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team, President of LDSAMRA did it again, this time to celebrate his 80th birthday.
Organised by Mike’s son Chris, Team Leader of Kintail Mountain Rescue Team Mike, Chris and 12 members of the Keswick Team climbed Tower Ridge on Saturday 31st May in absolutely perfect conditions.
Leaving the North Face car park the group ascended via the Allt a’ Mhuilinn to the CIC hut, where the on tap liquid refreshment was most welcoming. The party split up here, with the 14 climbers continuing to the Ridge, while another 12 family members, friends and non-climbers walked via half-way lochan and up the zig-zags to the summit. Mike’s wife Val, his daughter-in-law Janice and his grandchildren Louise, Donald and Alasdair all walked to the top of Ben Nevis.
Climbing in groups of 2 or 3 in perfect conditions (t-shirts the whole way!) the route took five hours to complete with regular refreshment stops, including stops for application and reapplication of sun-cream! As with all rescue teams the banter throughout was non-stop. A few of the more technical/exposed sections of the 600m route were protected with a fixed rope and prussicks, including Tower Gap, with the teams still roped but moving together over the remainder of the route.
By the time the climbers had reached the Eastern Traverse, the non-climbing group were on the summit, watching progress through binoculars and to the accompaniment of someone on the summit with a very large drum. Walkers on the summit commenting on the “they must be mad” climbing party were amazed to be told that one of the climbers was in fact 80!
The whole party reunited on the summit, still in t-shirts, for further refreshments and a photo call, before returning via the zig-zags, half-way lochan and Allt a’ Mhuilinn, with views as far as Mull, Skye, Schihallion and beyond. An onward journey to Dornie resulted in more birthday celebrations going on into the early hours……..
Mike Nixon has been a member of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team for over 50 years. He was team leader for 15 years, following George Fisher into the role and was awarded an MBE for his services to mountain rescue in 1993. As many people will know, Mike has been instrumental in the development of the Keswick team and mountain rescue generally. What most people won’t know is that Mike is still a regular on many rescues every year. In 2007 Mike attended 31 rescues out of the 90 full team callouts undertaken by the Team and has been on 1150 rescues in the 25 years since 1983, from when accurate records are available. He has been on many hundreds more prior to 1983. Mike doesn’t ask for and doesn’t receive any concession while on rescues, as he doesn’t need them. He will regularly be seen carrying large sacs of gear up the hill and carrying the stretcher on the descents.
Apparently to every rule there is an exception – we certainly have evidence of one here!
Mark Hodgson - Team Leader
http://www.youtube.com/v/pimlM3ZmYIE
2 actors required our assistance after they had befallen near-tragedy in our area.
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It is with great pride and delight that we can announce that as from 16th May 2007, Prince WIlliam has agreed to become the Patron of our national body, Mountain Rescue (England & Wales).
This is a great honour and recognises the totally committed and voluntary contribution which we make to the relief of suffering and distress among those who succumb to accident or natural hazards within the Lake District.
The Prince has indicated that he wishes to become actively involved in our work. Watch this space!
Congratulations to Elly Whiteford who succeeded, after many months of training, in becoming the handler of the Team's third 'graded' search dog.
Wedneday 15th February 2006
Mark Hodgson (Team Leader) and Paul Horder (Team Member and international representative for Mountain Rescue England & Wales ) were both privileged to be invited to a Reception to mark the contribution of the Emergency Services and those involved in Disaster Response. The Queen spent a few minutes talking to Mark and Paul about Keswick and about mountain rescue in the Lake District.
The Team's Land Rover was requested to be in attendance to represent the 53 mountain rescue teams in England and Wales. Keswick MRT was the first volunteer civilian team and was established in 1947.
The Land Rover was on display in the courtyard of the Palace, where it formed part of a guard of honour for the invited guests to the reception.
The Reception was attended by The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, The Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke of Kent, Prince Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra.
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Bomb disposal, Police, Doctors, Fire Service, Ambulance, Mountain Rescue and Submarine Rescue. There was also a RAF Sea King in the garden! |
The same scene by night with enough blue lights to alarm some members of the public! |
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Well, Officer, it was like this ... ! |
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