UKC

G J F Dutton, the author of the wry Doctor tales (‘The Ridiculous Mountains’, ‘Nothing So Simple As Climbing’) died on 1 June.

In the 1960s, as Editor of the SMC Journal, Geoff and his apprentice Robin Campbell, with contributions from Robin Smith, Tom Patey, and Dougal Haston among others, took the Journal to a position of wide acclaim in the climbing world. That earned him Honorary Membership of the SMC.

But climbing was just one of the interests to which Geoff applied his sharp intellect and energy. His pioneering research in biochemistry at the University of Dundee won him recognition by honorary degrees from universities around the world. He was also an important poet; he explored ‘wild swimming’ decades before its recent upsurge in popularity; and he created from scratch a celebrated ‘marginal garden’ in the rigorous conditions of Glen Shee. All these activities spawned writings of rare insight and literary quality. A genuinely remarkable man.

In reply to bobaitken: Brilliant guy if he did nothing other than the Doctor books but, as you say, he did a lot more. RIP

In reply to bobaitken:

I didn't know he was still alive!

As you say, a remarkable man. His "Doctor" stories are excellent, as is his poetry.

Rest in Peace.

Y.

In reply to bobaitken:

"The Doctor" is my hero and idol...

In reply to bobaitken:

hut circles

once you know what to look for
you see them everywhere,
rings of grey stone among heather
in clusters riding miles
bareback these upcountry hills

we know so little about them;
single or double walled,
some dozen steps in diameter
next to a fossilised field
with a scatter of cairns to complete them

and the people - are what you make them
their entrances carefully placed
regardless of slope or shelter
always to face southeast
obsessive as us, as confused

but every black morning in winter
Their God would rise up and wake them

G. F. Dutton (typos by me)

Y.