SCIENCE teacher Richard Newstead has just had his own Eureka moment – he’s climbed every ‘Marilyn’ hill in England.
After seven and a half years of diligent trudging, the father of two, of Victoria Road, Macclesfield, has conquered 178 hills.
And he’s the only walker in England to have combined this feat with his passion for amateur radio by using Morse code to contact strangers from the top of every one.
"I am absolutely certain no one else has ever done it," said Richard, 50, who works at Congleton High School.
His hill bible throughout has been a list known as the ‘Marilyns’, which includes all English hills with at least a 492ft drop.
"It is a joke on the the fact that in Scotland they are called the Munroes. I wanted to encourage radio hams to go walking so I set up an awards scheme – ‘Summits on the Air’ – in 2002. And I am the first to have completed it."
Those who follow in his footsteps – and radiowaves - up all the halls will get a special certificate. Amazingly, he used a two-watt radio throughout which he built himself.
"I appreciate it sounds very bizarre. Morse code is very effective and probably the earliest form of digital radio.
"I send out a radio signal and then wait for someone to respond, then we exchange signal reports.
"The furthest away I have reached is the east coast of America." His next mission is to climb every hill in Wales.
More than 2,000 people from across 25 countries have so far signed up for Richard’s award scheme.
To find out more visit www.sota.org.uk .
