Tom Weir
Encyclopedia
Thomas Weir MBE
, better known as Tom (December 29, 1914 - July 6, 2006) was a Scottish
climber
, author
and broadcaster
. He was best known for his long-running television series Weir's Way and his trademark woolly bunnet
.
, Glasgow
, and was the younger brother of actress Molly Weir
. After service in the Royal Artillery during World War II
, he worked as a surveyor
for the Ordnance Survey
before commencing a full-time career as a climber, writer and photographer
. In 1950 he was a member of the first post-war Himalayan
expedition and, in 1952, was one of the first to explore the previously closed mountain ranges of Nepal
, east of Kathmandu.
for over 50 years. From 1976, he hosted the Scottish Television
series Weir's Way, meeting the people of Scotland, exploring the landscape and its natural history. The show has recently been aired again on STV, and is now available on DVD in the UK. He won the Scottish Television 'Personality of the Year Award' in 1978. He was appointed MBE in 1976.
Weir lived in Gartocharn
and in 2000 he was awarded the inaugural John Muir Lifetime Achievement Award by the John Muir Trust
in recognition of his environmental work. He is also celebrated in the song "Tom Weir" written by Edinburgh musician Sandy Wright and performed by the band Aberfeldy
. More recently, L. Pierre wrote an ambient instrumental song, "Weir's Way", featured on his album, "Dip".
Weir was buried on 17 July 2006 in Kilmaronock Parish Church, near Drymen. He was buried in the same plot as the ashes of his sister Molly.
.
) (STV Player
)
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
, better known as Tom (December 29, 1914 - July 6, 2006) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
climber
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and broadcaster
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
. He was best known for his long-running television series Weir's Way and his trademark woolly bunnet
Tuque
A – variously known as a knit hat or stocking cap among other names – is a knitted cap, originally of wool though now often of synthetic fibers, that is designed to provide warmth in winter...
.
Early life and career
Weir was born in SpringburnSpringburn
Springburn is an inner city district in the north of the Scottish city of Glasgow, home to various working and middle-class households.Springburn developed from a small rural hamlet at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Its industrial expansion began with the establishment of a chemical...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, and was the younger brother of actress Molly Weir
Molly Weir
Mary Weir, better known as Molly Weir, was a Scottish stage actress, most notable for her role as the long-running character Hazel the McWitch in the BBC TV series Rentaghost. She was the sister of naturalist and broadcaster Tom Weir.Born in Glasgow and brought up in the Springburn area of the...
. After service in the Royal Artillery during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he worked as a surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
for the Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
before commencing a full-time career as a climber, writer and photographer
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
. In 1950 he was a member of the first post-war Himalayan
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
expedition and, in 1952, was one of the first to explore the previously closed mountain ranges of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, east of Kathmandu.
Media career and later life
Weir became a pioneering campaigner for the protection of the Scottish environment, and wrote a column for The Scots MagazineThe Scots Magazine
The Scots Magazine is a magazine containing articles on subjects of Scottish interest. It is the oldest magazine in the world still in publication although there have been several gaps in its publication history...
for over 50 years. From 1976, he hosted the Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
series Weir's Way, meeting the people of Scotland, exploring the landscape and its natural history. The show has recently been aired again on STV, and is now available on DVD in the UK. He won the Scottish Television 'Personality of the Year Award' in 1978. He was appointed MBE in 1976.
Weir lived in Gartocharn
Gartocharn
Gartocharn is a village in West Dunbartonshire in Scotland. It is the only village in the parish of Kilmaronock . The parish has a population of 1,051....
and in 2000 he was awarded the inaugural John Muir Lifetime Achievement Award by the John Muir Trust
John Muir Trust
The John Muir Trust is a Scottish charity established as a membership organisation in 1983 to conserve wild land and wild places for the benefit of all...
in recognition of his environmental work. He is also celebrated in the song "Tom Weir" written by Edinburgh musician Sandy Wright and performed by the band Aberfeldy
Aberfeldy (band)
Aberfeldy are a band formed by the singer-songwriter Riley Briggs in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2002. The band is named after the Scottish town.-History:...
. More recently, L. Pierre wrote an ambient instrumental song, "Weir's Way", featured on his album, "Dip".
Weir was buried on 17 July 2006 in Kilmaronock Parish Church, near Drymen. He was buried in the same plot as the ashes of his sister Molly.
DVD release
A collection of some of Tom Weir's best walks is currently available on DVD. Both series of Weir's Way are available on DVD, distributed by Acorn Media UKAcorn Media UK
Acorn Media UK is a DVD publisher which distributes and sells home video products with a particular focus on British television.- Company history :The company was founded in 1997 when Lesley Fromant set up a branch of parent company Acorn Media in the UK....
.
External links
(STV PlayerSTV Player
The STV Player is a website based video on demand service accessible though the main STV website and separately in the distinct domain name stvplayer.tv. Current programmes are available for 30 days after transmission on the main STV channel, with archive programming available longer-term...
) (STV Player
STV Player
The STV Player is a website based video on demand service accessible though the main STV website and separately in the distinct domain name stvplayer.tv. Current programmes are available for 30 days after transmission on the main STV channel, with archive programming available longer-term...
)