Climb of her life
Reporter: LEWIS JONES
Date published: 30 August 2010
Vicky’s brave homage to her tragic dad
Emotions will be running high as a brave nurse takes on a poignant tribute to her late father.
Vicky Roberts’s dad Brian, was 61 when he slipped on ice and plunged 300ft while walking in the Langdale Valley in the Lake District in February, 2009.
Now his daughter is keeping his passion for climbing alive by making the trip to Spain to scale one of the world’s toughest mountain ranges.
It’s the climb she had always planned to do with her father by her side.
Vicky (31) said: “It was a tragic accident. We were in complete shock when he died in the Lake District. He learned how to climb as a boy on the hills in Saddleworth and was a real outdoor man. My dad used to take me climbing from being a teenager. He was such a generous man and my best friend.”
A former PE teacher, Brian, from Grasscroft, was a keen climber who travelled the world.
From Yosemite in California to the Himalayas and Australia, Brian travelled the globe to sample some of the best adrenalin spots on offer. Daughter Vicky has now picked up the baton and plans to scale the 8,295ft limestone peak Pico Urriellu in northern Spain next Tuesday.
Joined by three of her father’s best friends, Ken O’Connor, Al Collister and Kevin Nagle, former Saddleworth School pupil Vicky plans to emerge triumphant after the eight-hour climb.
Vicky, who admits to not being a lover of heights, said: “I am a nervous wreck now the challenge is getting closer.
“He would have been so proud of us taking on the climb that we had always planned to do.
“I think he would tell me to enjoy the experience and he knows I am in good hands with Ken.
“It is not over when you get to the top, you have to come down which is terrifying, but I’m really looking forward to it. I think it will be really emotional.”
Proceeds will be donated to the Oldham Mountain Rescue Team, as well as the Langdale team who were involved in rescuing Brian from the Lake District hillside.
Donate online at www.justgiving.com/vicky-roberts
