A RETIRED vicar has celebrated his 75th birthday in style.
He climbed his favourite peak – for the 75th time.
Canon Michael Storey, of Rastrick, has had a love affair with Pen-y-ghent for decades.
In fact, the former vicar of Crosland Moor loves the Yorkshire Dales peak so much he climbed it eight times in one year to ensure he’d reached the summit 50 times by his 50th birthday.
But it hasn’t been climbing for climbing’s sake.
Mr Storey, who first climbed Pen-y-ghent in 1960, has always led youngsters up the 694-metre peak since his days as a teacher in Birkenshaw.
Indeed two of his former pupils joined him, alongside 86 other friends and community leaders, during his latest climb this month to mark his landmark birthday.
Mr Storey, who has climbed to the summit of 280 peaks in the UK, believes that fresh air and a good walk helps young people learn and gain confidence.
Mr Storey, originally from Battyeford, said: “It’s important for people to get into God’s wonderful countryside.
“Pen-y-ghent is the best looking mountain in Yorkshire.
“I never get bored of going up it. You get great views and it’s quite challenging. It’s got everything.
“I can navigate up and down it in the dark and I have done that a couple of times.
“It’s definitely been a love affair. It’s a wonderful mountain.
“When my 75th birthday was coming I thought I’d better do it again because at 80 I might not be fit enough.”
Mr Storey’s latest walk raised £202 to repair footpaths, stiles and gates on the Three Peaks; Pen-y-ghent and the adjacent Ingleborough and Whernside.
Michael, who is a member and former vicar of St John’s Church, Rastrick, jokes: “They said it’s only fair for me to contribute because I’ve worn the paths away!”
Pen-y-ghent lies two miles from Horton in Ribblesdale in North Yorkshire.
The name is thought to mean ‘Hill on the Border’ or ‘Head of the Winds’ in the ancient Celtic language, Cumbric.
