A MOUNTAINEER known as the ‘father of Scottish mountain rescue’ was honoured by the University of the Highlands and Islands at a ceremony in Perth yesterday (Thursday 6 October).
Dr Hamish MacInnes OBE was presented with a medal by university chancellor, HRH The Princess Royal, at the Perth College UHI Graduation and University of the Highlands and Islands Foundation Day.
The event, which took place at Perth Concert Hall, was attended by over 1,300 graduates and guests.
Dr MacInnes was awarded the University of the Highlands and Islands Chancellor’s Medal in recognition of his services to the development of mountaineering and mountain rescue.
With a career spanning more than six decades, he achieved several first assents and is credited with pioneering modern mountain rescue. He founded the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team in 1961, the Search and Rescue Dog Association in 1965 and co-founded the Scottish Avalanche Information Service in 1988.
Dr MacInnes also designed the first all-metal ice axe in the 1940s, invented the MacInnes folding stretcher in the 1960s and has authored numerous mountaineering books and contributed to documentaries and films (including Rob Roy and Highlander) as a climber, stunt double, advisor, narrator and producer.
Dr MacInnes was nominated for the Chancellor’s Medal by West Highland College UHI which delivers the university’s adventure tourism management and adventure performance and coaching BA (Hons) degrees.
He travelled from his home in Glencoe to attend the ceremony.
Speaking about his award, Dr MacInnes said: “It is indeed an honour to be here today to receive this award and I find it quite humbling. To be in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal, a true friend of Scotland, makes it a very special occasion.
“Behind me have been the mountain rescue teams and scientists who have also devoted their lives in making the mountains a safer place and ensuring the injured are evacuated as speedily as possible.
“At the forefront on a global scale, is Richard Glanville of Inverness, a composite expert who, with my help, has designed the new MacInnes mark 8 stretcher which will be the lightest and strongest on the planet and will be manufactured in the Scottish Highlands.”
Lewis Vernal, vice-principal (operations and finance) and company secretary at Highland Theological College UHI, was also honoured at the event.
Mr Vernal, who lives in Avoch, was presented with a Vice-Chancellor’s Medal in recognition of his 20 years of service to the Dingwall-based college and his contribution to the wider university.
Mr Vernal said: “It is a wonderful, unsought honour to receive this award. I have not only my colleagues at Highland Theological College UHI to thank for their kind nomination, but also the vice-chancellor in making his choice.
“I owe an immense tribute to my talented co-workers throughout the university and its Foundation. We have striven together over the years to play our part in creating and prospering our unique university, even as we continue to strive today for excellence in the education, support and nurture of our students.
“It is a special reward for us to look beyond all that we are focussed on doing for our students, to see increasingly and inspiringly what our alumni are going on to achieve, not only across the Highlands and Islands but also far beyond.”
University of the Highlands and Islands principal and vice-vhancellor, Professor Clive Mulholland said: “Our Foundation Day event is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions and successes of our students, staff and supporters. We are delighted to be hosting this year’s event in partnership with Perth College UHI, as part of the college’s graduation ceremony.
“Perth College UHI is one of the largest partners in the University of the Highlands and Islands network and it is also home to the Centre for Mountain Studies. It is fitting then, that Dr Hamish MacInnes could join us today to be presented with his Chancellor’s Medal in recognition of his contribution to the development of mountaineering and mountain rescue.
“I would like to congratulate Hamish and Lewis on their awards, as well as all of today’s prize winners and graduates.”
ENDS
Urram air a thoirt do dhuine a bha na thùsaire a thaobh teasairginn nam beann mar a tha i an-diugh ann an cuirm ann am Peairt
CHAIDH urram a thoirt do bheanntair ris an abrar ‘athair bhuidheann theasairginn nam beann an Albainn’ le Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean ann an cuirm ann am Peairt an-diugh (Diardaoin 6 Dàmhair).
Chaidh bonn a bhuileachadh air an Oll Seumas MacAonghais OBE le seansalair an oilthigh, a h-Àirdeachd Rìoghail a’ Bhana-phrionnsa Rìoghail, aig cuirm-cheumnachaidh Cholaiste Pheairt UHI agus Latha Stèidheachaidh Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean. Bha barrachd is 1300 de cheumnaichean is aoighean an làthair san tachartas, a ghabh àite an Talla Chuirmean-ciùil Pheairt.
Chaidh Bonn Sheansalair Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean a bhuileachadh air an Oll MacAonghais mar aithneachadh air na seirbheisean a thug e ann a bhith a’ toirt fàs air streapadaireachd agus teasairginn nam beann. Ann an rèis-obrach a mhair còrr is trì fichead bliadhna, bha e air a’ chiad neach a streap àireamh de bheanntan agus tha e air a chliùthachadh mar thùsaire teasairginn nam beann mar a tha i an-diugh. Stèidhich e Sgioba Teasairginn Bheann Ghlinn Chomhainn ann an 1961, Comann nan Con Lorg is Teasairginn ann an 1965 agus, còmhla ri càch, stèidhich e an t-Seirbheis airson Fiosrachadh mu Mhaoimean-sneachda an Albainn ann an 1988.
B’ e an t-Oll MacAonghais cuideachd a dhealbh a’ chiad tuagh-eighe a bha air a dèanamh air meatailt air fad sna bliadhnachan 1940 agus a dh’innlich sìneadair paisgeach MhicAonghais sna bliadhnachan 1960. Is iomadh leabhar mu streapadaireachd a sgrìobh e agus ghabh e pàirt ann am prògraman aithriseach is filmichean (Rob Roy agus Highlander nam measg) mar streapadair, leth-aon euchdan, comhairliche, aithrisear agus riochdaire.
Chaidh an t-Oll MacAonghais a chur air aghaidh airson Bonn an t-Seansalair le Colaiste na Gàidhealtachd an Iar UHI a bhios a’ liubhairt cheuman BA (le urram) an oilthigh ann an stiùireadh dàn-thurasachd agus coilionadh is trèanadh dàn-thurasachd. Thàinig e o a dhachaigh ann an Gleann Chomhainn a bhith an làthair aig a’ chuirm. An àm dha bhith a’ bruidhinn air an duais aige, thuirt an t-Oll MacAonghais: “Is e urram a th’ ann gu dearbh a bhith an seo an-diugh a dh’fhaotainn na duaise seo agus tha e a’ drùidheadh orm gu mòr. Is e latha air leth a th’ ann agus sinne an làthair a h-Àirdeachd Rìoghail a’ Bhana-phrionnsa Rìoghail, fìor charaid do dh’Albainn.
“Aig mo chùl bha sgioban teasairginn nam beann is an luchd-saidheans a chuir seachad am beatha cuideachd a’ feuchainn gum biodh na beanntan na bu shàbhailte agus gum biodh daoine a bha air an gortachadh air an togail às cho luath ’s a ghabhadh.
“An tùs catha aig an ìre dhomhanta tha Richard Glanville à Inbhir Nis, sàr-eòlaiche ann an caochladh raointean le chèile, a dhealbh, le cuideachadh bhuam fhèin, an sìneadair ùr, am MacAonghais àireamh 8 a bhios air an fhear as aotroime agus as làidire san t-saoghal agus a thèid a dhèanamh air a’ Ghàidhealtachd.”
Chaidh Lewis Vernal, iar-phrionnsapal (gnìomhachdan is ionmhas) agus rùnaire na companaidh aig Colaiste Dhiadhachd na Gàidhealtachd UHI, urramachadh aig a’ chuirm cuideachd. Chaidh Bonn an Iar-Sheansalair a bhuileachadh air Mgr Vernal, a tha na chòmhnaidh an Abhach, mar aithneachadh air an 20 bliadhna de sheirbheis a thug e don cholaiste a tha air a suidheachadh ann an Inbhir Pheofharain agus na rinn e airson an oilthigh san fharsaingeachd.
Thuirt Mgr Vernal fhèin: “Is e urram ciatach air fad a th’ ann, nach robh mi idir a’ sireadh, an duais seo a bhith air a toirt dhomh. Tha agam ri buidheachas a thoirt chan ann a-mhàin do na co-oibrichean agam an Colaiste Dhiadhachd na Gàidhealtachd UHI gu robh iad cho coibhneil ’s gun do chuir iad m’ ainm air aghaidh, ach cuideachd don iar-sheansalair airson an roghainn a rinn e.
“Is dùth dhomh àrd-mholadh a dhèanamh air na co-oibrichean tàlantach agam air feadh an oilthigh agus a Stèidheachd. Bha sinn a’ strì còmhla thar nam bliadhnachan a bhith a’ cluich ar pàirt ann a bhith a’ cruthachadh agus a’ cur piseach air ar n-oilthigh gun choimeas, eadhon mar a nì sinn strì an-diugh fhathast airson sàr-mhathas ann a bhith a’ toirt foghlam, taic is altram do na h-oileanaich againn.
“Tha e na dhuais shònraichte dhuinn a bhith ag amharc taobh thall de na tha air ar n-aire a thaobh na tha sinn a’ dèanamh airson nan oileanach againn, gus am faic sinn barrachd is barrachd, le togail-inntinn, na tha na h-alumni againn a’ dol air aghaidh a choilionadh, chan ann air feadh na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean a-mhàin ach fada nas fhaide às cuideachd.”
Thuirt Prionnsapal is Iar-Sheansalair Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, an t-Àrd-ollamh Clive Mulholland: “Is e cothrom a tha sa chuirm Latha Stèidheachaidh againn a bhith a’ dèanamh gàirdeachas mu shoirbheachadh ar n-oileanaich, ar luchd-obrach is ar luchd-taice agus na tha iad a’ toirt do chàch. Tha sinn anabarrach toilichte a bhith a’ cumail na cuirme am-bliadhna an com-pàirteachas le Colaiste Pheairt UHI, mar phàirt de chuirm-cheumnachaidh na colaiste.
“Tha Colaiste Pheairt UHI air fear de na com-pàirtichean as motha an lìonra Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean agus is ann innte cuideachd a tha an t-Ionad Eòlas Bheanntan air a shuidheachadh.
“Tha e iomchaidh, mar sin, an t-Oll Seumas MacAonghais a bhith còmhla rinn an-diugh gus am faigheadh e Bonn an t-Seansalair mar aithneachadh air na chuir e ri fàs streapadaireachd is teasairginn nam beann. Bu toil leam meal-an-naidheachd a chur air Seumas agus Lewis airson nan duaisean a fhuair iad, cho math ris a h-uile duine a choisinn duais no a cheumnaich an-diugh.”
CRÌOCH
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