Keswick Mountaineering Club veteran Ken Ogilvie has died aged 88.
Ken, whose wife Wendy wrote The Country Diary for The Keswick Reminder before her death in 2008, had been involved with the local climbing club since the 1950s.
Carlisle-born Ken attended the city’s grammar school where his interest in the outdoors and passion for adventure developed with its Scout troop via camps and expeditions all over Europe.
In his late teens he joined Carlisle Mountaineering Club which introduced him to the Lakeland fells and the Scottish Highlands.
At Durham University he gained a BA honours degree in history. A diploma in PE followed before national service in Berlin.
He then became head of PE at Derwent School, Cockermouth, where his belief in outdoor learning grew.
In 1960, he designed and built a climbing wall of scaffold outside the school building. Camping trips were organised for pupils to Scotland and the Lakes and during his eight years as PE teacher there, he founded Cumberland’s panel of assessors for the gold expedition for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
He joined Keswick Mountaineering Club after moving to the town and in 1966 he was appointed warden of Ghyll Head Outdoor Pursuits Centre, for Manchester Education Authority. He developed and ran the centre for 22 years.
He joined the Association of Wardens of Mountain Centres (now the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres) which he served for 46 years.
He was still serving after retirement from Ghyll Head and was guest of honour at its 50th anniversary dinner in 2015.
In later years he remained active, undertaking many sailing trips with friends, mainly to Scotland.
He was a member of Keswick Natural History Society, Keswick Lecture Society and Cumberland Geological Society up until 2019 when ill health prevented him attending meetings.
His interest in whisky sampling will be fondly remembered by friends and colleagues.
And he was a visionary, way before his time, inspirational to staff and students. He was kind, thoughtful, dependable and approachable and a man of reason and diplomacy.
In 2013, Ken completed his epic book and life work Roots and Wings: A history of outdoor education and outdoor learning in the UK. It is the definitive history of outdoor education and outdoor learning.
As a historian, Ken kept meticulous notes and diaries of expeditions and events. There are over 10,000 slides in his collection.
In a career spanning more than 60 years, Ken C Ogilvie brought many people into the field. He generously gave his time, encouragement and expertise and was an inspiration to many.
He will be greatly missed but always remembered. His was a life well lived.
