The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
FUNDRAISER
Aconcert inmemoryof two climbers, “missed with every breath”, will be held on top of a mountain hundreds of miles from Ben Nevis where they died on Valentine’s Day last year.
Rachel Slater, 24, and TimNewton, 27, were missing for five weeks before their bodies were found after a tireless search in dangerous conditions bymembers of the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team.
Now their friend’s father will play a grand piano, which will be carried up a mountain in the Lake District, to raise funds for the team who did so much to find the couple. It is hoped Robert Richmond’s virtuoso performance – which
“Wonderful idea and a beautiful way to honour Rachel and Tim”
has been welcomed by Rachel’s parents – will raise cash to t h e tune of £5,000.
The event will be held on Saturday, but organiser Steve Spencer is quick to point out that it is no joke.
He said: “It really isn’t an April Fool wind-up.
“We’ve called the event ‘An April Folly’, and although it sounds like a stunt, it was born out of tragedy.
“Robert’s son, Michael is a climber and Rachel and Tim where two of his friends.”
Robert will be playing almost 900 feet up at the top of Claife Heights, on the shores of Lake Windermere. The piano will arrive by ferry at 11am and will be carried on its specially designed frame up to the viewing station Robert’s programme will begin at 2pm and will include Morricone’s Cinema Paradiso, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No 2 and Ravel’s Piano Concerto inG Major. He will be playing to film clips which will complement the music.
Rachel, who lived near Bradford, and Tim, originally from Leicester, were experienced climbers, but were caught in a huge avalanche on Ben Nevis. Rachel’s parents, Nigel and Rosemary Slater, said: “We miss Rachel and
Tim with every breath we take.
“This is a wonderful idea and a beautiful way to honour Rachel and Tim”.
Members of Coniston Mountain Rescue will be collecting on the day and profits will be shared with the Lochaber team.
Donations can be made by going to: http://uk.virginmoneygiving. com/ team/anaprilfolly