Festival recognition for mountain rescue veteran

One of the UK's most experienced mountain rescue experts has been recognised for his contribution to Scottish mountaineering.

David Whalley has been named the 16th recipient of Fort William Mountain Festival's Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture.

He served with the RAF Mountain Rescue Service for almost 40 years, attending more than 1,00 mountain incidents and dozens of air accidents.

Mr Whalley was senior team leader of the rescue effort at the scene of the Lockerbie disaster in 1988.

He was also involved in the search for survivors of a fatal military Chinook helicopter crash on Mull of Kintyre in 1994.

After leaving the RAF he was a volunteer with Torridon and Kinlochewe Mountain Rescue Team for three years.

Mr Whalley, who lives in Burghead in Moray, climbs every week and is a member of the Scottish and Moray mountaineering clubs.

His climbing exploits in Scotland include completing Scotland's 282 Munros seven times.

Mr Whalley is well-known in the climbing community by his nickname Heavy, which he earned in the RAF due to his spirit and determination on rescues.