Shelley family’s grief at loss of climber Lawrence Walker

Jul 21 2009 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

PARENTS of a Huddersfield climber killed in a tragic mountaineering accident today paid him a moving tribute.

Richard and Julie Walker, of Far Bank in Shelley, told the Examiner they were struggling to come to terms with the loss of son Lawrence.

The 21-year-old was killed by a falling boulder on the north face of the Ailefroide mountain in the Hautes-Alpes, southeastern France, on Sunday, July 12.

The rock was dislodged as he and best friend Alex Green climbed with two French mountaineers.

Lawrence suffered severe head and leg injuries in the incident.

Mr and Mrs Walker said: “Our family are absolutely devastated by our son's accident and are struggling to come to terms with this tragedy.

“He was a really kind, gentle and intelligent young man with a wicked sense of humour who had achieved an enormous amount in his life.

“Lawrence was passionate about climbing and the outdoors.

“He was with his best friend in the French Alps, three weeks into a three-month long climbing expedition they had been planning for a long time.

“They were both excellent and experienced climbers who always climbed with the greatest degree of caution and a high level of responsibility.

“Although we are currently struggling very hard with grief, we do take great comfort in the fact that he did die doing exactly what he loved – climbing with his best friend.”