The head of more than 3,500 mountain rescue volunteers has been rewarded with an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
David Allan, chairman of Mountain Rescue England and Wales, received his gong for services to mountain rescue. He has been involved in the service for more than 42 years.
Mr Allan, of Ulverston, Cumbria, joined Furness Mountain Rescue Team as its doctor and subsequently became medical officer and chairman of the umbrella group for mountain rescue teams south of the border.
Mountaineer Ron James gained an MBE in the list. Mr James, of Llandudno, Conwy, is a retired mountain guide and was president of the British Mountain Guides from 1996 to 1999.
He was instrumental in the founding of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation, having set up a mountaineering centre at Ogwen Cottage with two other well-known instructors, Trevor James and Tony Mason-Hornby.
He still writes and lectures on mountaineering and published a guide to routes in the Dolomites. He received his honour for voluntary service to mountaineering.
Bill Patison MBE
13 June 2009isnt it just typical.sit on your backside and talk about it .get an OBE,get out and do the job and get sod all.
Harry Ashcroft
13 June 2009Congratulations to both...well earned.
Ron was a bit of a god to this fledgeling mountaineer back in the 60s/70s in North Wales and something of a role model.
I was lucky enough to have Dave Allen as my team doctor whilst with Furness MRT in the 90s as stretcher fodder and later as team chairman. His incredible depth of knowledge on emergency medicine, his love of the hills and his wicked sense of humour enabled him to connect with us mere mortals in an extraordinary way.
As MR(E&W) chairman he continues to be an inspiration and a voice of common sense in what can be at times a massive battle of individual and team egos. He can and does not suffer fools. Long may he continue.
Harry Ashcroft
Kendal MRT