This is particularly poignant when you realise that one of the last interactions Brian had with UK climbers was to post his condolences on the thread about Daimian Cook last Wednesday - http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=83722#1142102

I knew Brian quite well for a brief period as he acted as a medic on an expedition I was on in Nepal. Subsequently I also climbed with him in Scotland. Great guy. Very sad loss. Wish I'd known him better. Wish I could say more, but I feel very sad about this. Condolences to his close friends and family. Jon

Absolutely tragic, I never met him but we knew him by repute and always used to joke that the Tilly Whim Caves were named after him. This is a tragic loss to his family and friends, and indeed climbers in general feel close because he was one of us, we still need to remember that others who we dont know are dying daily at the hands of Muslim extremists and give our thoughts to those too. Great condolences to his family and friends.

Reported in the Times Online this morning - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-6047-1110774,00.html (scroll down to the bottom of the page) FORMER Royal Marine has been shot dead in Iraq while working as a private contractor (Michael Evans writes). Brian Tilley had been due home on Wednesday but missed his flight and was waiting for another. Sources said that a gunman had walked into the house where Mr Tilley was staying and opened fire. Mr Tilley is believed to have served in the first Gulf war in 1991. He left the Royal Marines Special Boat Squadron about two years ago, and had been based in Baghdad for 14 months. Mr Tilley set up his own company called Peak after leaving the Royal Marines, and was believed to be working with an Egyptian company on a communications project. His partner in the company is also a former SBS member. The Foreign Office said last night that it was aware of the death of a British citizen but could not confirm his identity.