Thanksgiving service to be held in memory of climber killed on K2
A thanksgiving service is to be held in his native Aberdeen for a mountaineer killed whilst attempting a new route on K2 last month.
The service in memory of Rick Allen, who had moved to Nethy Bridge last year, will be held next Saturday (August 28) at Gerrard Street Baptist Church in the city at noon.
Mr Allen had been a long time member of the church.
He had joined an expedition with Jerry Gore for an attempt on the world's second highest mountain in the Karakoram mountains of Pakistan when he was killed in an avalanche.
Friend Kenny Rogan said: "Rick was known by many as one of the best Himalayan mountaineers of his generation. However, to us at Hope Church, we only found that out later.
"We got to know has as a kind friend, who loved Jesus, worked hard for humanitarian causes and had some crazy stories about climbing!
"The last day we saw him, Rick said that he wanted the folks he was on that fateful K2 expedition with to know that he was more excited about Jesus than the climb.
"He had a dry wit and a willingness to make time for anyone. He was a nightmare to keep up with on even a small hill walk. We miss him."
Mr Rogan continued: "Rick lived in the Spey Valley for less than a year. However, he had deep routes in Aberdeen and Gerrard Street Church where he was connected for decades.
"Gerrard Street are holding the funeral in their massive building so there should be space for anyone who wants to attend and give thanks for Rick."
Mr Allen had moved to Sliemore at Dorback by Nethy Bridge, last year, and joined the Aviemore-based Hope Church where he was an active member of the congregation.
He was a trustee of Partners Relief and Development which seeks to meet health and educational needs of refugee children in some of the most challenging situations on earth.
Through the expedition, Mr Allen had been aiming to raise at least £10,000 for the charity's work on the borders of Myanmar following the recent military crack-down.
His greatest mountaineering achievement was conquering the Mazeno Ridge on Naga Parbat with Newtonmore climber Sandy Allen in 2012 – it was regarded as the last, great unclimbed Himalayan route.
Tributes for one of Scotland's leading climbers who has been killed on K2
