The oldest participant in this year’s Cateran Yomp has been thanked for his fundraising efforts at the Black Watch Castle and Museum.

Andrew Wedderburn (84) took part in the epic walking challenge in eastern Perthshire on Saturday, June 9, and Sunday, June 10. However, the former officer of the Black Watch stopped off at Balhousie Castle on his way to reminisce about his time with the Perth-based regiment.

Major Wedderburn was greeted by Major Ronnie Proctor MBE from the Black Watch and Corporal Leslie Binns, ambassador for the Cateran Yomp, when he stopped off at Balhousie Castle on Friday, June 8.

Spanning an impressive 65 years of military service between them, Leslie and Andrew discussed their tactics for the walking challenge ahead of them and spoke about their years of military service.

Despite the fact Major Wedderburn has recovered from prostate cancer and a recent heart operation, he was determined to travel back home to Scotland from France – where he now lives – to take part in the charity endurance event.

He was inspired to become more active after his heart operation, when doctors told him to take up walking to help him with his recovery.

Major Wedderburn decided he could do this and raise money for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity at the same time by signing up for the Cateran Yomp.

At 84, he was the oldest participant taking on the challenge over the weekend.

He finished in around 11 hours and was greeted at the line by his family.

He said: “My sons tried to convince me to come along and act as support for the walkers but I was determined to walk in the event myself so will be hiking 22 miles on the day and am very much looking forward to it.”

Corporal Binns has been representing the soldiers’ charity for a number of years after he had to be medically discharged from the army.

He had completed a number of tours, such as Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Since being discharged, he has been working with the charity and challenging himself, including attempting to scale Mount Everest.

However, just before reaching the world’s highest summit he selflessly turned around to help save a climber who was sliding out of control towards almost certain death and he was able to get her to safety.

He said: “In my time as a soldier and as a civilian, I have taken up many challenges both physical and mental.

“The Cateran Yomp is up there with the best of them.”

The Cateran Yomp, which took place on Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10, raised £250,000 for the charity, which helps to provide a lifetime of support to soldiers and veterans from the army and their families.

Major General Martin Rutledge, chief executive of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, said:
“Every year hundreds of charity supporters lace up their walking boots and take on this challenge to raise money for us.

“The money raised by the yomp has helped many thousands of soldiers, veterans or their families who have been in need of the charity’s help.

“We are extremely grateful to Major Wedderburn, his sons and all of the 1000 plus walkers who took part in the 2018 Cateran Yomp.”