Honour mountain man Munro in sporting hall of fame, says MSP

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25518850

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The man who gave Munro peaks their name should be honoured in Scotland's sporting hall of fame, according to a Conservative MSP.

Murdo Fraser said Sir Hugh Munro should be recognised in the same way as sporting greats such as Kenny Dalglish, Liz McColgan and Sir Matt Busby.

Sir Hugh, co-founder of the Scottish Mountaineering Club, was the first person to measure and categorise all Scotland's peaks over 3,000ft.

His list was first published in 1891.

The name Munro is now given to all mountains in Scotland higher than 3,000ft.

Mr Fraser has tabled a motion at Holyrood calling for Sir Hugh to be inducted to the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame for his contribution to hillwalking and mountaineering.

Mr Fraser, who is MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, and a keen hillwalker, said: "As someone who has climbed more than half of Sir Hugh's Munros, I know only too well the tremendous service he has given to Scottish mountaineering.

"By charting every peak and helping form the Scottish Mountaineering Club, Sir Hugh laid the foundations for mountaineering and hillwalking in Scotland.

"It attracts thousands of visitors to Scotland every year and, since the 1980s, an estimated 5,000 people have bagged every Munro.

"Without the contribution of Sir Hugh Munro, hillwalking and mountaineering may have never had the firm footing it has in Scottish culture, life and tourism.

"There are some fantastic names already in the hall of fame, and I think Sir Hugh deserves to be among them."