Biography
We felt the need to include Milton's qualifications and work experience, as he made many sacrifices in order to achieve them. Milton and Elliot spent time together drafting his CV. It goes without saying just how proud we are of him. He gained so much satisfaction from everything he did, always striving for perfection and very concientious in all he did.
We often spoke about his future. A short time before he died, he did say how he wanted to spend the next five years doing everything he could. He loved the freedom it gave him, to travel and meet new friends. Being a late starter, he had a lot to catch up on.
Eventually, when he felt ready to settle, it was likely to have been in Scotland. It was while he was training to gain his mountain leader certificate, that the rock fall occured on Ben Nevis.
It was one of his ambitions to become part of a mountain rescue team. How ironic!
Outdoor Pursuits Qualifications
- British Canoe Union
- Level 3 Trainee Coach (Inland Kayak)
- 4 Star (Inland Kayak)
- Level 2 Coach (Open Canoe)
- 5 Star Training (Open Canoe)
- Mountain Leader Training Board
- Single Pitch Supervisors Award
- Summer Mountain Leader Award - Training
- Royal Yachting Association
- Power Boat Level 2
- Dinghy Sailing Level 2
- Windsurfing Level 1
- British Orienteering Federation
- Orienteering Instructors Award - Training
- Rescue Emergency Care
- First Aid for the Outdoors
- Royal Life Saving Society
- Bronze Medallion
- National Pool Lifeguard Certificate
- Grand National Archery Society
- Archery Leader
Education
- 1996 - 1997
- Outdoor Pursuits course with NGB Awards - Dallam Sixth Form School
- 1995 - 1996
- One Year Outdoor Education Diploma - Newbury College of Further Education
- 1984 - 1985
- Pre-teaching course in Physical Education - Colchester Institute
Work Experience
- May '98
- Club Getaway, USA. Employed as activities co-ordinator to organise the adventure activities and maintain equipment as an active leader of the adventure sports team. Duties included training international and American staff as well as instructing groups in rock scrambling and climbing, archery, hill walking, caving, problem solving, rope courses and runways.
- Nov '97
- Open Door Adventure Centre. Freelance work instructing groups ranging from business clients to schools and youth clubs in a variety of outdoor activities, including rock climbing and abseiling, gorge walking, problem solving, communication and leadership skills following the key principles of Open Door - safety / enjoyment / learning.
- June '97
- Club Getaway, USA. Responsible for instructing adults rock climbing at novice and intermediate levels on weekends. During week, instructing schools and youth clubs in multi activities, such as orienteering, rock scrambling and climbing, archery, rope courses and runways, problem solving, hill walking and caving.
- April '97
- Eurocamp Plc., Italy. Employed overseas to work in a team providing distribution and erection of equipment, in preparation for summer season throughout courier sites in Northern Italy.
- May '96
- YMCA, National Centre. Instructing a variety of groups from company employees to school children. Activities included rock climbing and abseiling, hill walking, orienteering, initiative exercises, rope courses and runways, archery, raft building, canoeing, sailing, overnight bivvi's and expeditions. Position also involved course directing for clientele, added responsibilities included, duty instructor and allocated days for general maintenance of site and facilities.
- Mar '96
- Benmore Outdoor Education Centre. Instructing primary school groups from within the Strathclyde region. Pursuits included caving, orienteering, gorge walking, rock climbing and abseiling, forest walking, canoe and seashore exploration.
- Sept '95
- Cumbria Outdoors. Instructing adults and children in ghyll walking, sailing, caving, canoe rafting, hill walking, rock climbing and abseiling etc., for Cumbria Local Education Authority. Also responsible for maintenance, storage and organisation of equipment.
- Aug '94 - June '95
- Fairlop Sailing Club. One day a week assisting with the instructors giving kayak sessions.
- June '94
- Forest School Camps. Voluntary assistant for two weeks on school camp holidays. Introduced children to camping and expedition skills.
- 1985 - 1995
- Self employed conservatory and window installer.
Personal Outdoor Experience
- Kayak / Canoe
- Surfing and sea trips off the North Wales and Cornish coast. Various rivers in Scotland and England up to grade 3. Experience in white water racing, slalom competition, canoe sailing and journeying experience.
- Climbing
- Lead climbing to E1, on a variety of rock types at several locations throughout England, Scotland and Wales (Stanage, Froggatt, Millstone Quarry, Sennen Cove, Bosigran, Polldubh, Tremadog, Baggy Point, Holyhead Mountain, Borrowdale etc...) Also climbed at Joshua Tree National Park, Suicide and Tahquitz Rock, California.
- Mountain Walking
- Extensively throughout England, Scotland and Wales, in both summer and winter conditions.
- Sailing
- Limited experience in a wide variety of dinghies at various locations around England and Scotland.
- Winter Skills
- One month in Canadian Rockies gaining proficiency in nordic skiing, downhill skiing and ice climbing, as well as winter mountaineering skills gained in Scotland.