John Hamer

Police have named the man who died 10 days ago on the Skye Cuillin range.

The body of John Hamer, 66, of Hayton, near Brampton, Cumbria, was found by rescuers after he was reported missing.

His family said he was one of the county’s most experienced fellwalkers.

In a statement issued through Police Scotland, they said: “John Hamer, who had climbed all the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales as well as some of the top ranges all over the world, was walking in the Coir’a'Ghrundda area of the Cuillin range, which lies south of Sgùrr Alasdair.

“The alarm was raised when he failed to return to the Glen Brittle Memorial Hut where his wife Betty and the rest of their party, who were on an annual walking meet, were staying.

“A huge search involving three helicopters, from Stornoway Coastguard, the RAF and the Royal Navy, Skye and Kintail Mountain Rescue teams, an RAF mountain rescue team, and dogs from the Search and Rescue Dogs Association and the Highland and Islands division police dog section was launched.

“All the teams worked tirelessly in daylight hours until John was found two days later.

“It is believed that, after becoming separated from his friends, John slipped and fell while coming off the ridge.”

His family said he retired about seven years ago from his job as a planning officer with Carlisle City Council.

He had walked extensively in the UK and had completed the ascent of all the Scottish munros and corbetts.

He and his wife and their son Paul had also walked and climbed in the Alps, the Himalayas and the Atlas Mountains in north Africa and the couple were about to go on a walking trip to Ethiopia.

He was renowned for his physical fitness and had recently developed an enthusiasm for long distance cycling, and had completed several rides including a section of the Grande Route over the Alpine passes, they said.

He was also a keen ornithologist from an early age and regularly helped with British Ornithology Trust counts along the Solway and was a committee member of the Carlisle Natural History Society.

Mrs Hamer, a former teacher, paid tribute to all those in the party who supported her last week and all those who searched for John after he went missing.

“The rescue services and the police were extremely supportive and involved me fully in the two days of the search,” she said.

“They were all volunteers who thought nothing of leaving their places of work and spending many hours working with great dedication and determination.”

Mr Hamer’s funeral will be held at Carlisle Crematorium at 11.40am next Thursday, October 10.

Donations will be given to the two mountain rescue teams that searched for him.