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Veteran broadcaster Tom Weir diesVeteran broadcaster Tom Weir diesThe climber, writer and broadcaster Tom Weir has died at the age of 91. He was a champion of Scotland's wild places and is best known for the long-running STV series Weir's Way, which started in the 1970s. His wife Rhona, 86, said he died on Thursday afternoon at a nursing home in West Dunbartonshire. Mr Weir was born in Springburn in Glasgow and was the brother of actress Molly Weir, known for her role in the 1980s children's TV show Rentaghost. Mr Weir loved the great outdoors from youth and often caught the bus out of town with his mother to explore the Campsie Hills. After service with the Royal Artillery in World War II, he worked for the Ordnance Survey before becoming a professional climber, writer and photographer. In 1950 he was a member of the first post-war Himalayan expedition and climbed in Greenland, Iran, Syria and Kurdistan. But it was the hills of Scotland that made him famous. He hosted Weir's Way, wearing his trademark woolly hat and Fair Isle jumper, exploring the landscape and history of Scotland and meeting people along the way. The show recently attained cult status after STV began repeating it in the early hours of the morning. Mrs Weir, a retired headteacher at Gartocharn Primary School, paid tribute to her husband of 47 years. "He was a great man, my lifelong soulmate and I adored him," she said. "His health had been failing and in a way this was a release for him because he had lost the power of his legs and couldn't go out and explore the outdoors he loved and lived for. "Our marriage was a great partnership and it was based on complete trust of one another. I will miss him very much." Environmentalist Dr Adam Watson was a lifelong friend of Mr Weir's and met him while walking in the Cairngorms in 1947. He said: "I was 17 when I met him and I was struck by him because he was such a confident all-round mountaineer and also had a great interest in natural history. "He was a brilliant conversationalist. When he came into a room, he was a small man but he had a great confidence and a great look and people just stood listening to him. "He had a great knack of speaking to total strangers and putting them at ease." Mr Weir campaigned for the protection of the Scottish environment and received a John Muir Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 for his work. He is also celebrated in the song Tom Weir written by Edinburgh musician Sandy Wright and performed by the band Aberfeldy. Mr Weir's funeral will be held at Kilmaronock Parish Church next Friday at 1400 BST. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/5157692.stm |
| pogofish |
Very sad, two of my family used to go to the hills with him in their youth & only just the other week, one asked if I'd heard how he was these days.
Another fine old Scottish character gone. 
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| mairead |
Aye, another grand old Scot. He'll be sorely missed by many. |
| azzuri |
...a sad day indeed.
Hope they continue to show Weir's Way on late night telly - it's essential viewing! RIP Tom |
| Aventinian |
A real shame. I just hope the outdoor traditions continue. |
| Morph |
Such a shame, was gutted when i heard. RIP tom |