There are five award categories for 2026 recognising the contribution volunteers give across the community. Alongside our previous four awards, we added to our volunteer recognition, with a new award - the Clubs and Communities Award - recognising volunteers who have given great service to a club or group within the broader BMC community. Judging by the number of nominations in this category, the award was long overdue.

These five awards are nominated by the BMC community and then the Awards and Honours Committee come to a consensus and present their recommendations to Members Council for a final decision.

On top of these awards, this year we introduced an additional sixth award - the President's Award - that can be chosen by the current BMC president to recognise individuals who have made a significant contribution to the community and is awarded at the discretion of the President.

Meet the winners of the 2026 BMC Awards

Honorary Membership | Dr David Hillebrandt

The BMC's highest form of recognition.

Dr David Hillebrandt has been awarded Honorary Membership, for his 25+ years of outstanding contribution to mountain medicine and the climbing and mountaineering community.

As the BMC’s Medical Advisor, David has played a leading role in developing mountain medicine in the UK and internationally. His achievements include bringing the Diploma of Mountain Medicine to the UK, helping establish the UK Frostbite Advice Service and British Mountain Medicine Society, and supporting the BMC’s Mountain Medicine workshops.

For more than two decades, David has generously shared his expertise on a wide range of medical challenges in the mountains, helping improve safety and care for climbers, mountaineers and Mountain Rescue teams. His lasting contribution to the BMC and the wider mountain community makes him a highly deserving recipient of Honorary Membership.

Andy Boorman has dedicated decades to supporting the North Wales climbing community through exceptional voluntary service, bringing energy, expertise and a thoughtful approach to education, youth development, access, conservation and climbing safety.

As a teacher and outdoor educator, Andy introduced hundreds of young people to climbing through a club he ran in his own time, while also mentoring trainee outdoor education teachers and inspiring generations of climbers. His contribution has continued through his work with the Chris Walker Memorial Trust and the wider climbing community.

Andy has also played a pivotal role in protecting and maintaining North Wales’ crags. As BMC Access Officer for North Wales limestone, he helped establish negotiated access agreements, led conservation and crag-cleaning initiatives, and pioneered the inspection and replacement of critical fixed equipment. His vision was instrumental in establishing the North Wales Bolt Fund, while his guidebook work continues to support both climbers and local conservation efforts.

A professionally qualified educator, retired mountain guide, author and long-standing advocate for North Wales, Andy’s commitment to helping others enjoy the outdoors safely and confidently makes him a highly deserving recipient of the George Band Award.

Anne Arran has made a significant and wide-ranging contribution to the BMC, representing British mountaineering at national, European and international level over many years. She has served in senior roles with the BMC, the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) and the European Union of Mountaineering Associations (EUMA), helping shape policy, governance, access, safety and youth development.

As a UIAA Management Committee member and former President of its Youth Commission, Anne helped develop the organisation’s long-term strategy, championed youth participation and established initiatives including the UIAA Global Youth Summit. Her work with the UIAA Rock Climbing working group also supported grassroots climbing festivals internationally, with a strong focus on safety and sustainability.

Anne has also played an important role in advancing inclusion and female leadership within mountaineering. As President of the British Association of International Mountain Leaders (BAIML), she helped create a more welcoming professional environment for women in the guiding sector, while her wider international work has contributed to more inclusive and progressive approaches across climbing and mountaineering.

Through her sustained leadership, expertise and commitment to international cooperation, Anne has made a lasting contribution to the BMC and the wider mountaineering community.

Highly Commended

Nick Galpin for his invaluable contribution to climbing safety since 2017, using his engineering expertise through the BMC Technical Committee, UIAA Safety Commission and CEN equipment standards work to improve the safety, accessibility and reliability of climbing equipment.

Dan Robinson has made a long-standing and significant contribution to improving the safety and quality of climbing bolts in Cumbria and across the UK. As a trustee of the Cumbria Bolt Fund since its establishment in 2007, he has helped guide bolting projects, train volunteers, manage equipment and share best practice through training and education. His work, including supporting bolting initiatives beyond Cumbria and promoting the use of UIAA-approved equipment, has helped raise standards and make climbing safer for the wider community.

Highly Commended

Roy Hammond for his crucial help developing the BMC "Get Stuck In" initiative in Eryri (Snowdonia). He has taken over the organisation of the multiday conservation events in Eryri. This help the project grow overall and give more capacity for this volunteer-led initiative. Roy is a regular volunteer on single day conservation events in the Peak District, plus the multiday conservation events in Eryri and the Lake District.

Richard Law for securing access in the west of the Midlands Area for 31 years (since its establishment) and providing valuable continuity on the Area Committee, attending and supporting events across the Area.

The UK Paraclimbing Collective is a volunteer run charity, unpinned by five fantastic disabled and neurodivergent climbers. The UKPC play a pivotal role in ensuring access for disabled and neurodivergent people within climbing. They released a free accessibility guide for climbing walls, relevant to everyone within the sport, which had a fantastic reach and has had wonderful feedback from walls, coaches and individuals alike. They host inclusive accessible climbing socials and the largest annual friendly Paraclimbing comp, which recognises all disabilities, not just those dictated by IFSC categories within climbing. They support the community in so many ways behind the scenes, including within their WhatsApp, discord and Instagram groups. They have previously helped raise money for Paraclimbers to reach their goals, donated equipment to those in need, and provided free climbing sessions.

Thanks to their free comprehensive accessibility guide, written by those with different disabilities and access needs, they have helped providers improve access at their sites and coaches become more inclusive. The socials have brought new people into the wonderful sport, and they've helped GB climbers achieve their goals.

Highly Commended

Sameed Asghar has been helping people discover the outdoors for more than two decades, with a particular commitment to supporting people from ethnic minority backgrounds, inner-city communities and others who face barriers to accessing nature.

Since 2005, Sameed has volunteered with charities, community groups and mosques, organising and leading outdoor challenges and inspiring thousands of people to take part in trekking and other outdoor activities in the UK and overseas. His work has also encouraged people to gain outdoor qualifications and helped foster a growing number of affinity groups within the outdoors. Through his work with Summit Special and his wider community volunteering, Sameed has been a consistent advocate for greater diversity in outdoor spaces.

Although Max has only recently been appointed as Chair of the BMC North East area, he has made significant progress in instilling a fresher and more dynamic approach to the way the North East area is run, which has increased the energy and interest levels amongst local BMC members.

He has volunteered his time, energy, and expertise in taking children who predominantly climb at indoor climbing centres and has introduced them to climbing in the great outdoors, in particularly by supporting the last two North East Youth meets.

Adrian has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to the Northumbrian Mountaineering Club and the wider North East climbing community for almost two decades. As Membership Secretary since 2013, he has helped more than double club membership, particularly among younger and female climbers, while creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for new and developing climbers.

A qualified climbing instructor and coach, Adrian has helped hundreds of people progress from indoor to outdoor climbing, while also supporting youth meets, conservation projects and club development. His leadership has strengthened the club’s governance, safety and communication, while his work with the BMC Northeast Area Committee has helped connect local clubs with national initiatives. Through his generosity, compassion and commitment to others, Adrian has helped build a stronger, safer and more inclusive climbing community.

Highly Commended

Bill Deakin has been part of the Rucksack Club since 1978 and has taken on many committee roles over the years, including Club President 1996-97 and  currently Hut Warden for our Welsh Hut (Beudy Mawr). As hut Warden Bill has supported and facilitated the use of the hut for the Veterans in Sefton which is a charity to support ex-service people. Bill has also spent many an evening supporting the charity Climbers Against Cancer, raising funds for their valuable work.

Chris Bullock has encouraged young people to get involved in the sport, including children who may never otherwise have discovered climbing or believed it was an activity open to them. Through his enthusiasm, commitment and inclusive approach, Chris has helped make climbing feel welcoming, accessible and achievable for young people from a wide range of backgrounds.  Chris has been involved with the BMC Youth Climbing Series as a volunteer for more than 9 years and has been pivotal in organising outdoor youth meets in the North East.

Awarded for outstanding contribution to the wider community.

It would be difficult to find anyone else that has developed more new routes than Gary Gibson, making a strong argument that he has single handedly done more for the average climber in Britain than anyone else. Just look at your logbook and you’ll see how many routes you’ve climbed that have been developed by Gary. He’s negotiated access to many crags. Gary is a true activist, volunteering his time to develop crags, negotiate access, put up new routes, re-equipping tirelessly and writing guidebooks. Gary has continued to work for the climbing community despite his now chronic ill health.

Despite not winning an award this year, we would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their volunteering contributions.

Spenser Gray

As current Chair of the BMC’s Technical Committee for over five years, Spenser has worked with the EDI Committee on Adaptive Equipment guidance and supported comps with Harness Checking protocols and belaying at national competitions, as well as supporting the belaying for the Para community, alongside supporting groups like UKPC.

Lindsay Griffin

Lindsay Griffin has made an outstanding lifelong contribution to mountaineering and the BMC, including serving as President of the Alpine Club and as a key leader of the BMC International Committee. He is widely recognised as one of the world’s foremost authorities on mountaineering, meticulously verifying, translating and documenting ascents and expeditions worldwide, while promoting progressive, ethical alpine climbing. His definitive Alpine Club guidebooks have educated generations of climbers, and his decades of generous voluntary service have made him a vital custodian of modern mountaineering history.

Mark Courtiour

For his work as the BMC Access Rep for Cheddar and the Mendips, a role which he has held for 10 years. His outstanding network of personal contacts built up over many years as a local employee of the National Trust has enabled him to negotiate improvements in access or maintain the status quo.  Mark, as a longstanding member of the Climbers Club, also contributed to the writing of the critically important 2007 Lower Wye Valley Guide and the important 2010 Symonds Yat guide.

Tony Bird

Tony Bird has made a distinguished and sustained contribution to the BMC, first as Chair of the Climbing Wall Committee during a transformative period for indoor climbing, helping develop new walls, the first climbing wall manuals and operators’ handbook, NICAS and the foundations of the Youth Climbing Series - and later as Wye Valley Access Rep. Since returning as a volunteer, Tony has built strong relationships with landowners and conservation bodies, led the Wye Valley Access Team, helped establish fixed-equipment policies and rescue provision, and played a pivotal role in negotiating the reopening of Symonds Yat following the 2023 rockfall. His modest, collaborative yet firm approach, reliability and commitment have made him an exceptionally effective and valued BMC volunteer.

Thanks to our BMC Ambassadors Rose Gare-Simmons and Steve McClure, in 2026 we introduced a new prestigious award celebrating individuals (or groups) who inspire others through their achievements in mountain-related activities across Britain.  This award went out to a public vote after six nominees were shortlisted.

Lorraine stood out for her extraordinary achievements in Scotland. Lorraine was the first woman to complete a continuous round of all 231 Grahams, Donalds and Donald Tops.  Lorraine McCall has become one of Scotland's most accomplished long-distance mountain walkers through a series of extraordinary self-powered mountain rounds.

What makes Lorraine's achievements particularly inspiring is that many have been completed while undergoing treatment for cancer. Her determination, resilience and positive outlook have touched countless people she has met along the way. Through her adventures, Lorraine demonstrates that even in the face of significant personal challenges, it is possible to continue pursuing ambitious goals and finding joy in the mountains.

This couple have redefined what is possible in British climbing through an extraordinary partnership built on trust, communication and shared ambition. As a blind climber, Jesse relies on Molly's real-time guidance to tackle some of Britain's most challenging traditional climbs, demanding exceptional technical skill, preparation and teamwork from them both. Through their climbing, Jesse and Molly continue to inspire people across the outdoor community by showing what can be achieved when barriers are approached with courage, collaboration and an unwavering belief in what is possible.

The following four inspirational people were recognised as finalists of this new award:

Helen Rennard achieved a remarkable mountaineering feat by completing all 282 Munros in winter in a record time of 80 days and 9.5 hours. She completed the second half of the round with an unhealed leg wound after falling on a spiky rock on a few days before reaching the 141 Munro mark. Despite this painful injury, she became only the second woman ever to complete a continuous winter Munro round and set a new overall winter record. Undertaken during Scotland's harshest season, the challenge demanded exceptional endurance, planning, navigation and resilience across some of Britain's most demanding mountain terrain. Helen's achievement combines athletic performance with a deep commitment to mountain travel and exploration, providing an inspiring example of what can be accomplished through determination, preparation and a passion for the outdoors.

Emma Twyford made British climbing history in 2025 when she became the first woman to climb a UK E10, one of the highest grades in traditional climbing. Her ascent of Yma O Hyd (E10 7a) represented a landmark achievement, breaking new ground for women in British trad climbing and demonstrating years of dedication, perseverance and elite-level skill. As one of Britain's leading climbers, Emma continues to inspire others through her commitment to challenging objectives and her willingness to push the boundaries of what is possible. Her achievement is not only a personal milestone but also an important moment in the history of British climbing, encouraging future generations to pursue ambitious goals and challenge perceived limitations.

Franco Cookson continues to push the boundaries of British traditional climbing through bold ascents and a deep commitment to the ethics that define the sport. In 2026, he established a new E12 route on Ben Loyal in the Scottish Highlands, representing one of the most difficult traditional climbs ever completed in Britain. The ascent demanded years of effort, countless attempts and an unwavering commitment to bold, self-reliant climbing in a remote mountain environment. Beyond the headline grade, Franco's achievement reflects the perseverance, dedication and respect for British climbing traditions that inspire many within the climbing community. His determination to pursue ambitious objectives while remaining true to the values of traditional climbing makes this a truly outstanding achievement.

Rob Matheson, at the age of 74, reminded the climbing world that ambition and adventure have no age limit. His ascent of The Bells! The Bells! (E7/8) stands as one of the most remarkable British climbing achievements of recent years, combining technical skill, commitment and decades of experience on challenging traditional routes. Known for his thoughtful approach to climbing and his lifelong passion for the mountains, Rob's achievement has inspired climbers of all generations. More than simply demonstrating exceptional performance, his ascent shows that personal goals, determination and a love of adventure can continue to drive us throughout our lives. His achievement embodies the spirit of the award by encouraging others to pursue their own ambitions regardless of age or expectation.