Congratulations to BMC members David Allan, Ron James and David Tait, whose services to mountaineering have been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list.

David Allan has been awarded the OBE for services to mountain rescue in England and Wales. His involvement with mountain rescue began when he moved to the Lake District in 1975, and became the team doctor for the Furness Mountain Rescue Team. He subsequently became the medical officer of the Mountain Rescue Council of England and Wales, and has been the chair of the council for the past ten years. During his three decades of voluntary service he has helped to transform the training of mountain rescue doctors and the treatment of casualties.

Ron James has been awarded the MBE for voluntary services to mountaineering. In 1959 he established Ogwen Cottage as an outdoor pursuits centre and a mountain rescue post, and five years later he co-founded the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation. He is also a founder member of the British Mountain Guides, of which he was President from 1996 to 1999.

Ron has also been an active new router and guidebook author, making first ascents of some classic routes, including The Plum at Tremadog in 1961 and The Girdle Traverse of the Lower Amphitheatre Wall on Craig yr Isfa in 1966. In 1970 he wrote ‘Rock Climbing in Wales’, a selected climbs guidebook to 200 of the best climbs in North Wales – possibly the first selected climbs guide to be published in Britain. In 1988 he wrote ‘Dolomites West and East’, a selected climbs guidebook to the magnificent limestone rock walls, which he updated for the new edition published in 2005.

Wing Commander David Tait has been awarded the MBE. In 2008 he led the British Services’ Expedition to Makalu, which succeeded in putting the 6th, 7th and 8th Britons on the summit. The expedition was arguably the most successful in the 50-year history of Joint Services Mountaineering, and was recognised earlier this year with an award to mark outstanding achievement for sporting endeavours by members of the British Armed Forces. David is the current chair of the Royal Air Force Mountaineering Association.
 

« Back