SNP

I first met Blyth at Glenmore Lodge where he was an instructor in the early 80’s. The residential course was in basic rock climbing and mountain craft and Blyth was one of the instructors on the course. Little did I know we would go on to become close friends and have that unique relationship of parliamentary candidate and election agent! Blyth had a generally impassive demeanour and may even from time to time have given the impression of being door. However when I mentioned that I had been avalanched once – in Ben Lui Central Gully – his expression changed into a broad smile:

“Excellent news” – “Tell me all about it!”

Blyth was a leading figure in Scottish mountaineering and was the coordinator of the Sport Scotland Avalanche Information Service. He was the driving force behind this service which he fought to establish along with Hamish McInnes, Eric Langmuir and Fred Harper. Thanks to a carefully planned ambush of the chair of the Scottish Sports Council by this formidable team – joined by Michael Forsyth, funding was made available for the establishment of the avalanche service in 1988.

Blyth’s contribution to this work can not be underestimated. Without his determination and sheer cussedness the avalanche service we know today would not exist – and potentially many lives would have been lost.

Blyth also acted as coach and mentor to many up and coming climbers and was a pioneer in establishing many new routes in Scotland and the Alps.

His first Alpine trip was in 1963 at the age of 20 and this led to a position as assistant director of the International School of Mountaineering working with Dougal Haston.

The Club Vagabonds scene at the time was seen as something which suited Blyth perfectly. He moved back to Scotland in 1976 to take up the position at Glenmore Lodge which he held for fifteen years.

He continued his climbing career into his seventh decade.

I got to know Blyth well when he was my election agent in Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber in the 1992 election. We saw a substantial increase in the SNP vote moving from fourth to a very close third place. Indeed Russell Johnston barely hung on to the seat with the narrowest of majorities and a record low in percentage of the votes 26.1 in the history of parliamentary elections in Britain.

In his politics Blyth was totally committed to Scottish independence. His approach was pragmatic and realistic – to build up trust amongst people and concentrate on preaching to the unconverted. His passion for climbing the outdoors and education generally led him to champion these causes.

Given his climbing skills he had absolutely no difficulty in climbing up any lamppost – and was punctilious in ensuring that they were “properly dressed”. He would cast a critical eye on the work of some activists whose posters were squint, too low or two high.

He was meticulous in the work that he did as agent and expected the same from others. He also worked closely for Neil Johnston who was my predecessor as the candidate in 1987 and he went on to convene Inverness, East, Nairn and Lochaber Constituency Association for a great many years.

At times during constituency meetings his patience wore a little thin – but he always allowed everyone their say and kept almost everyone together, herded in broadly the same direction – toward progress for the party.

He went on to be my election agent for the second time in 1999. In the first Scottish parliamentary general election, after the votes we counted we found that victory had been secured in Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber by the majority of 441.

This was significant in two ways: although we took many “list” seats at this election, it was the only first past the post gain that we made. Secondly it was the first time that the party at a general election won “new ground” since the elections in October 1974.

Blyth was immensely proud of that achievement and he was a tower of strength in leading the team of activists which secured that first and significant victory.

At the ceremony celebrating the convening of the Scottish Parliament, each MSP was entitled to ask one guest. Blyth accompanied me. I have somewhere the photo of that day which he immensely enjoyed.

We attended the Royal Reception at Holyrood Palace where Blyth – not I think in the vanguard of the royalist movement – was introduced to Her Majesty. They had an interesting discussion about climbing.

At the somewhat extended celebrations later on in that day we both enjoyed ourselves considerably well into the early hours of the morning where there was a song or two.

Some readers may recall that I used to close the SNP conferences with extemporary renditions of “Scots wha’ hae’ ”.

Blyth pointed out to me during our night of celebration in 1999 and after a rendition of Kilikrankie that:

“Fergus: When you stopped singing – we started winning”.

There was however singing when the Parliament was reconvened by Winnie Ewing and Blyth was there to join in the singing of his favourite song “A Man’s a Man for Aw’ That”.

That song for Blyth, as for so many other Scots summed up his philosophy of life and his approach to dealing with others.

As a friend, patriot, climber and brother he will be sorely missed.

At the funeral service which took place in Aviemore on Friday the 29th May I was able to read out in making a tribute in the church a message from Alex Salmond:

“Blyth Wright played a major part in advancing the cause of Scotland, both in his political life in the Highlands and as the driving force behind the avalanche information service which he both established and ran.
He will be greatly missed.
Moira and I send our sympathies to Blyth’s family.“

My condolences go out to his family and friends.

Blyth, may you rest in peace.

Fergus Ewing MSP