Family of man and son who died after going lacking strolling pay tribute

The family of a man and his 12-year-old son who died after going missing hillwalking in Glencoe have paid tribute to a ‘caring and loving father’ and husband and ‘energetic, loving boy’.

Tom Parry, 49, and his son Richie, 12, were hiking in the Scottish Highlands on Tuesday and had been due to return home to Cheshire on Wednesday.

However, the pair were not seen or heard from and rescuers searching recovered two bodies from Stob Coire Nan Lochan, Glencoe at around 7.25pm on Wednesday. 

They have now been formally identified as Mr Parry and his son Richie from Cheshire.

Police said there are no suspicious circumstances and their deaths are being treated as the result of a fall.

Their family have released a tribute to the pair in a statement issued through the police.

Gemma Parry said: ‘Tom was a caring and loving father to his children and a loving husband to me, his wife Gemma. Richie was an energetic, loving boy who loved his quizzes, maths, and sports. He always cared for others as well no matter what’.

‘We would like to take this chance to thank the Scottish and Cheshire police as well as the mountain rescue service along with all the other emergency services involved in finding Richie and Tom’.

‘We would also like to say to the press to give me and my family some privacy during this time of grieving’.

‘We would also like to thank to thank the community of Alsager and all of our family friends who have helped us and supported us throughout this time’.

‘Tom and Richie will be sadly missed and never forgotten.’

Inspector Katy Duncan said: ‘Our thoughts remain with the Parry family at what is a very difficult time for them.

‘We would like to thank everyone who responded to our appeal, to all emergency services and Mountain Rescue volunteers.’

A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team were among those involved in the search.

In a post on Facebook the team said: ‘We are deeply saddened by this outcome and our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the Parry family at this time.’

Officers previously confirmed they had found Mr Parry’s car in a carpark in Glencoe where they stopped on Tuesday to go hillwalking.

Glencoe Mountain Rescue said the father and son were experienced hillwalkers.

A close friend of Mr Parry, who said he first met him when the pair were at primary school together in Ipswich, previously asked for prayers for Gemma and the rest of Tom and Richie’s loved ones.

Bart Seaton-Said, who now lives in Brisbane, wrote online: ‘Tom was in so many ways a heroic soul. He was loyal and sensitive to others and faced obstacles with fortitude. This world is the less for his passing.’

He added: ‘Tom and I met aged five at St Margaret’s C of E Primary School in Ipswich.

‘Later, at Ipswich School we became close companions and have remained in touch. I was to be best man at Tom and Gemma’s wedding but had been sent to Brisbane by the Society of St Francis just before Tom requested this so was unavailable to tell tales of our misspent youth, on that occasion.

‘Tom and I spent many hours behind several pints of English ale at the Moon and Mushroom Pub in Swilland.

‘This very particular Suffolk pub is the closest in my mind to Tolkein’s Prancing Pony as ever there was. Tom and Gemma and two children graciously joined my 40th birthday lunch there ten years ago.’

A business colleague of Mr Parry’s also previously said their deaths had come as a ‘huge shock.’

Nigel Howle, who runs a public relations firm, said Mr Parry had been walking in the Highlands with his son several occasions.

He was a former client and expert in market research, Mr Howle said.

‘I recall Tom as a very kind, courteous man,’ he said. ‘Tom was extremely knowledgeable around the subjects of market research. Rest In Peace Tom and Richie.’