Glasses are raised at the ceremony on Mill Hill. Photo: Chris Haywood

Friends and family of a rescuer who died on a callout joined members of his team on the slopes of the Peak District’s highest hill to remember him.

Ken Blakeman collapsed and died while on a rescue mission with Kinder Mountain Rescue Team in July.

His ashes were scattered on Mill Hill on Kinder Scout in a ceremony conducted by the team leader and an ordained member of the Kinder team.

A spokesperson for Kinder MRT said Mr Blakeman was a much loved husband, father, grandfather, team-mate and friend.

“The service was conducted by Neale Pinkerton, team leader, and Pete Roberts, a team member and retired ordained minister, with a very poignant and moving reading by his widow, Sandra, after which a tot of whisky was distributed to all who wished and a final toast to Ken was raised,” the spokesperson said.

Ken Blakeman. Photo: Kinder MRT

“A fitting tribute to a wonderful and generous man who will be fondly remembered and sadly missed. With not a dry eye in the house it was, in Ken’s own words, “bl***y marvellous.”

Mr Blakeman was on a callout to help a young person in difficulties while taking part in a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition on Kinder Scout when he collapsed.

He was the Kinder MRT chairman and also chaired the umbrella body for all the area’s teams, the Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation.