Ben Nevis climb raises hundreds of pounds for Mayor’s charities

Two of the councillors who took part in the expedition, Councillor Shaz Saleem and former Mayor and Councillor Steve Waltho presented a cheque for £700 to Councillor Anne Millward, the Mayor of Dudley earlier this week.

The councillors joined a group of 30 walkers to climb Ben Nevis this summer, in an annual pilgrimage of the Bert Bissell Memorial Society.

Councillors Ruth Buttery, Simon Phipps and Richard Body also took part in the climb.

Councillor Anne Millward, The Mayor of Dudley, said:

I would like to say a huge thank you to all five councillors for doing this climb in Bert’s memory but also to raise vital funds for the Mayor’s charities.

I was fortunate to wish the climbers well ahead of their journey and I am incredibly proud of their achievements.

The money raised will go towards helping my chosen charities, including Black Country Mental Health and the Duke of Edinburgh award.

Bert Bissell climbed Ben Nevis 107 times and was laid to rest following his passing in 1998 at the age of 96 in the cemetery at Glen Nevis. He was instrumental in twinning Dudley with Fort William, held the freemanship of both Dudley and Lochaber and won the World Methodist Peace Prize for his incredible work and achievements.

A memorial plaque and stone were recently placed in Buffery Park to commemorate Bert's legacy. The Bert Bissell Memorial Society was formed in 2017 but the annual climb began in 2014. To date 65 individuals have achieved over 90 ascents raising well over £25,000 for charities.