03/12/2025
Skye MRT held its Annual General Meeting last night, providing a moment to reflect on what has been the team’s busiest year on record. With over 100 incidents so far, including several multi-day searches, it has certainly been a demanding year for everyone involved. But the biggest moment of reflection came with the announcement that Neil Urquhart has stepped down as Team Leader, a role he has held since May 2018.
We believe Neil first joined the team around 1986 — though the one fact we can say with certainty is that his wife Helen joined a year before him. He became Deputy Team Leader in 2007, supporting Gerry Akroyd until his retirement in 2018, when Neil stepped into the Team Leader role.
His steady leadership has guided the team through some of its busiest and most complex periods, and over that time he has witnessed — and helped steer — a great deal of change within the team. Neil has led significant developments that have strengthened the team’s resilience as callouts continue to rise year on year, and his detailed knowledge of the Cuillin has played a vital part in countless successful rescues. Those who have been alongside him know how much his calm approach and reassuring presence have meant on long, difficult callouts — especially when the weather is foul, it’s dark, and you find yourself on some time-forgotten rake in the Cuillin.
Neil isn’t disappearing, though. He plans to remain an active member of Skye MRT, and while he’s stepping back from the leadership role, he still has a great deal to offer the team — something everyone is very grateful for. But first, he and Helen have a major adventure planned next year — a lot of walking in Patagonia, a well-earned stretch of freedom after years of helping to run one of the busiest mountain rescue teams in Scotland. He’s also got a fair few waterproofs to make before they can go!
Stepping up as the new Team Leader is James “Paddy” Stephenson, previously Deputy Team Leader, with Ben Wear taking on the Deputy role. Having learnt the ropes from Neil, both are well placed to lead the team forward and ensure Skye MRT remains in a strong position for the years ahead.
The team extends its wholehearted thanks to Neil.
