Sad to hear.

Last year, when I met him, (for just 2 short periods), Jim's calm manner and stoic attitude made a great impression on me.

We spent 40 minutes or so chatting at Corryhully bothy on the first day. After 20 minutes of conversation, I only twigged his great age after he mentioned working on Spitfires. Then, he gave me a few tips for looking after ones physical self. He showed me a few of his morning stretches. I have a photo of him from then - not just touching his toes, but bending forward with hands flat on the floor! He had intended to camp there, but decided it was too early so made his way on up. I was heading South, so we said our goodbyes.

Then, after finishing on the last day, Andy Wright and I got on the bus to Montrose at Roadside of Catterline. Jim was there having finished further North (in Aberdeen I believe). As, we walked to the Park Hotel with Jim, he told us of some his crossing. After we signed in, and he got his dues, as John has written, he slipped off quietly.

That's so very sad. I was hoping to bump into him last year but he signed out 20 minutes ahead of me and that meant no hope of catching him. Getting old can be so unfair, fit enough to walk across Scotland then passing on within a year.