Tom Proctor, one of the most influential Peak District climbers of the 60´s and 70´s, died lastweekend after a long illness. He first hit the headlines with a series of breakthrough routes at Stoney Middleton includingOur Father, Lucy Simmons, Pickpocket, Wee Doris and free ascents of old aidroutes like Dies Irae , Scoop Wall, Kellog and Kink. Other major routesinclude Mortlocks Arete in Cheedale and Boothill and Tom Thumb onCratcliffe. Tom went on to contribute major routes throughout the next decade strayingas far afield as Cornwall with Yankee Doodle and Anglesey with Deygo. Tom´s strength was legendary and he wasthe subject of a ´Crags´ cartoon as´The Hydraulic Man( Tom bore an amazing resemblance to Clark Kent) andBilly Whizz´ ( Billy bore an amazing resemblance to his climbing partner andmentor, Geoff Birtles). A gentle and modest man Tom was a statesman of Peak District climbing.
![[VIDEO] Tommy Caldwell: The Dawn Wall](https://www.climbing.de/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/vimeo_58005535-150x150.jpg)
