Denis Bell is a noted hill runner who has had a top class career in Scottish hill running and has been a friend of Brian, Maggie and their two sons for many years. I say has ‘been a friend’ but Denis and his wife Mary are still friend of the family. He knows about their highs and lows (groan) and when he was asked to say something about Brian he did it in his own idiosyncratic fashion – it is handwritten but he comments on that himself. Over to Denis, pictured below with Christine Menhennet.
Brian Edridge is a great man, I think married to the wonderful Maggie for over 50 years and with grand lads Finlay and Innes as two very bright grown men of character. A great family. Brian and I of course crossed tracks on the hills – we have a love of our special Scottish open spaces and high grounds. First recollections of this tall, lean, athletic gentleman of lovely lilting Scots tongue and always with a smile and kind words. Brian proudly wore the white vest with the bold black C – yes the Clydesdale Harriers iconic proud vest. The C teams Brian ran with were of course often exceptional and so many became true valued hill friends. Brian was a braw long-legged athlete of style and honest endeavour. Brian’s palmares reads so strong I think 2 or 3 Munros completed and add at least one winter achieved complete. A tough committed, focused man of the hills who set objectives and simply, forthrightly achieved …! All those hills again and again – energy, commitment, hilllcraft and appetite. There are few who who would rate higher in terms of loving the high places.
As Brian progressed he determined to do the “others” . . . . . yes, Corbetts, Donalds, Marilyns – his achievements and record is awesome. Of course Maggie and the boys were involved and made a ‘fit, competent family’. As an added dimensional adventurer, Brian sailed and got his ticket for skippering, so he and Maggie sailed the seas and revelled in the West Coast in particular. Such people gather in great, close friends and the enthusiastic open-arms welcome was simply guaranteed.
Two wee asides: First, Brian was an adept ‘moothie’ player and of course entertainment at the bothies, camps, on board all helped engender fun and unforgettable social gatherings. Second, I recall Brian telling me he got hellishly ‘crag-bound’ in winter while doing a classic long mountain-face traverse and needed to be rescued (bravo SMRT) – it didn’t dampen his enthusiasm to get out and about.
Apart from a really lovely valued friendship – over probably about 35 years – and more past our running days, Brian gave me much needed support when I was organising hill races. I am a bit of a “loose yin” at records and book-keeping and on at least 3 or 4 occasions Brian so generously took my mess of notes, receipts and cash and made them make sense and balance! An accountant is a compleater/finisher. That’s Brian Edridge.
So Brian and Maggie. committed and true Scots through and through have been around and graced so many companies with their warm social skills and fun welcoming and supporting. You’ll gather from my scribblings that the tall, lean, gentle-man is a self effacing power house and resilient, hardy man of huge endeavours with skills and energy that makes him an inveterate achiever, par excellence, To know and be friends with Brian and Maggie is a rare treat . . . . people’s people who are always a pleasure to be in the company of. Our (Mary and me) friends have inspired and enthralled and we hope that continues for many years to come. Challenges come and go for us ‘aulder yins’ but the love of friendships gained over the years add to the richness of life. Thank you for being “youse” Maggie and Brian. Here’s to a few more glasses raised. Slainte Mhath.
Thanks Denis and also thanks for bringing up the matter of Brian’s sailing abilities and adding to what Christine has said already. In fact Brian himself tells us that he had the yacht for approximately 20 years. He says that after he retired he and Maggie lived aboard the yacht (Antarctica) for 4 months every summer for about 15 years. They visited the Scottish Islands which enabled him to climb more Marilyns and higher hills.