Mike has climbed and adventured and led groups all over the world including Africa, Iceland, Norway, North and South America, and most parts of the European Alps. Mike is a qualified Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor as well as an International Mountain Leader and is presently Operations and Safety Manager at YMCA Lakeside Centre. His love for adventure has been mirrored by a 45-year career as an Outdoor Education and Mountaineering Instructor.
Mike studied Adventure Education with the inspirational Colin Mortlock at Charlotte Mason College (now the University of Cumbria) as well as completing a degree in the social sciences with the Open University. He has worked for Outward Bound and the YMCA as well as North Tyneside LEA.
Mike has a long commitment to training the next generation of instructors. Whilst working independently he was an inspector for the Adventure Activities Licencing Service and was the Professional Officer for the Association of Mountaineering Instructors for a few years.
Mike has also had a lifelong involvement as a mountain rescue volunteer. He served as team leader of Duddon Furness MRT for many years and has held several National Mountain Rescue officer roles over the last thirty-five years, most recently ten years as National Operations Director. Mike was awarded an OBE for services to Mountain Rescue in 2021. He currently leads on MR heritage and the BMC Partnership and Mountain Safety Forum for Mountain Rescue England and Wales.
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