Pilgrimage reaches Ben summit despite heat
Despite one the hottest days of the summer taking its toll, a group of 20 Dudley folk reached the summit of Ben Nevis to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VJ Day.
The seventh annual pilgrimage of Dudley’s Bert Bissell Memorial Society looked to be in jeopardy two months ago with Covid restrictions and loss of coach transport.
Society chairman Councillor Steve Waltho MBE put out the message that the mission could only go ahead if Covid restrictions were accepted, accommodation was open and participants made their own travel arrangements.
The response was an amazing 23 people meeting in Fort William on the evening of August 13.
Twenty made it to the summit in strength-sapping heat the following day to lay a wreath on the summit of Britain’s highest peak.
Councillor Waltho said: ‘However, it took its toll with one member having to be escorted off the mountain and another having to be half carried down with exhaustion.
‘My wife, Jayne, had her work cut out as base commander but handled it all admirably and the camaraderie and support amongst the group was phenomenal.’
Ben Nevis has a significant link to Dudley through the late Mr Bissell, who climbed it 107 times.
‘People joined the group for a variety of reasons and without doubt the most moving sight of all was five members of Jules Garratt-Payne’s family, whom we raised funds for last year, including husband Darren, all making it to the summit to unfurl her banner after she tragically lost her fight for life last November.
‘I’m also a proud member of the Gentleman Songsters Male Voice Choir for whom Bert was president for many years and fellow songster Andy Parker also made it to the summit with his partner Sue and two sons, only to courageously have to half carry Sue part way back down as she succumbed to exhaustion.
‘The other group saw five individuals employed at Wetherspoons Oldbury, including my eldest son Jay. The spirit, courage and willpower shown by this group was exemplary with the final climb group spending nearly 12 hours on the mountain.’
Fellow Dudley councillor Simon Phipps also climbed the mountain, raising money for the Edwards Trust as did Coseley Scouts chair, Nick Gallagher, raising much-needed funds for his Scout group.
Finally, society vice-chair and Dudley’s taxi chief Shaz Saleem was raising money for the Saleem Foundation. All three causes had links to the Covid crisis and are still receiving donations via their respective JustGiving sites.
On VJ Day, the team gathered again at Bert’s grave in Glen Nevis Cemetery to pay their respects to the legendary Dudley figure. A minute’s silence was also observed.