Dave 'Heavy' Whalley. Photo: David MacLeod

A stalwart of mountain rescue is the latest recipient of an annual award for excellence.

Organisers of Fort William Mountain Festival have named Dave ‘Heavy’ Whalley as the winner of this year’s Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture.

The award is made as part of the festival.

Mr Whalley, an ex-RAF Mountain Rescue Service member, has taken part in more than 1,000 rescues and a further 80 aircraft incidents in mountainous areas.

His service in mountain rescue and mountain safety education spans more than 40 years.

Mr Whalley, known to most people by his nickname Heavy, was a member of the RAF rescue service for 37 years. He was team leader at RAF Leuchars, RAF Kinloss, and deputy team leader at RAF Valley on Anglesey. He spent the last four years of his RAF career working in the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre when it was at RAF Kinloss.

Among notable incidents in which he was involved were the Lockerbie Disaster in December 1988 when 270 victims of a terrorist attack lost their lives. Mr Whalley was senior team leader at the site. He was also involved in the hunt for survivors of a Chinook helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre in 1994 when four RAF crew and 25 terrorism experts were killed.

Early in his career as a catering accountant in the RAF in the 1970s he was initially rejected as a search and rescue team member because, at seven stone and 5ft 4ins, he was deemed to be too skinny. However, as a veteran of countless rescues, he quickly earned his nickname, Heavy, for his size and huge spirit.

After leaving the RAF he joined the Torridon and Kinlochewe Mountain Rescue Team serving with them for three years until he retired.

Heavy is the 16th recipient of the award. Previous winners include Dave Morris, Andy Nisbet, Jimmy Marshall, Myrtle Simpson, Ian Sykes, Karen Darke and Dr Hamish MacInnes.

He said: “To be put forward for this award and named in the same group as the past winners of the Fort William Mountain Festival is so humbling. It is a great honour; thank you.”

He has previously been appointed an MBE and awarded the British Empire Medal. He was a member of the executive of the Scottish Mountain Rescue Committee for more than 20 years, serving for five years as the accident statistician and three years as chair. Mr Whalley has also received the distinguished service award for service to mountain rescue. He is both an honorary member of the Torridon and Kinlochewe MRT and president of the Search and Rescue Dog Association Scotland.

Mr Whalley is an active climber and walker, climbing every week. He is a member of the Scottish Mountaineering Club and Moray Mountaineering Club. He has climbed in most parts of the world, has completed Scotland’s 282 munros seven times, and was a member of the successful 2001 Everest North Ridge Expedition.

A spokesperson for the award organisers said: “Heavy is a true ambassador for mountain safety and culture, who has dedicated much of his life to the mountains in Scotland, Europe and the Himalayas. He continues to share his passion for the outdoors and his vast experience and expansive knowledge of mountain rescue by teaching and lecturing on mountain safety.”

Tom Uppington, managing director Alvance British Aluminium, owners of award sponsors Jahama Highland Estates, said: “As the owner of much of the land surrounding both Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis, including the main winter-climbing venue of the North Face of the Ben we are acutely aware of the importance of having a resilient and sustainable voluntary mountain rescue service ready to go to the assistance of those in need.

“Dave’s passion for a lifetime of selfless dedication, putting others safety before his own, makes him a worthy recipient of this award.”