SID Thompson, the former Bolton public health inspector who became the grandad of British rock climbing, has died in Cumbria at the age of 81. "Owd Sid" as he was known in climbing circles, was still climbing the tough crags of his beloved Lakeland until five weeks before his death. Only last summer, he astonished staff at the BEN when he cycled more than 100 miles from his home in Maryport on the Cumbrian coast for an interview at our Churchgate offices.

He told of his 60 year climbing career and how he got the climbing bug when he cycled to Cumbria from Bolton with his pal for a camping holiday in 1932. He achieved his ambition to be near some of the country's best rock faces when he got the chance to transfer from his public health job in Bolton to a similar job in Maryport.

Last year he revealed his ambition to be the first ever man over the age of 80 to climb the awesome rock cliff of Central Buttress on Scafell in the Lake District. And just a few weeks later he did it.

Sid, who had been a widower for many years, leaves three daughters and several relatives in the Bolton area.

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