Former Derby MRT team leader Steve Hilditch, who lost his fight against cancer

A mountain rescue team has paid tribute to a former team leader who died on Friday.

Derby Mountain Rescue Team member Steve Hilditch lost a long fight against cancer and passed away in Derby Royal Hospital.

The team said: “Steve was an inspirational man and a father figure to many people, both within the team and the wider community.

“His work with Mountain Rescue England and Wales and the Scout Association was acknowledged as he was presented with an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours earlier this year.

“Steve had only the year before been awarded the Scout Association’s highest honour, the Silver Wolf award, for ‘services of the most exceptional nature’. Steve had been a member of Derby MRT for 47 years, joining in 1968, only four years after the team was formed, and took on the role of team leader in 1981 until stepping down at the end of 2014.

“Despite an impressive 34 years of leadership with many awards and commendations for the team, Steve gave all of the credit to the hard work and commitment of his fellow team members.

“Our thoughts are with his wife Kim and the family at this time.”