Tributes to teacher killed in Ben Nevis avalanche

Mr Rosedale had bought a house in Chamonix

A teacher from Wiltshire who was killed in an avalanche on Ben Nevis was preparing to move to Switzerland to become a mountain guide.

Nicholas Rosedale, known as Rupert, was head of outside activities at Marlborough College.

Paying tribute, his father Dr Barney Rosedale said he had died doing what he loved to do, and did supremely well.

The 37-year-old is survived by his wife Ulrika and two children, Ted, aged three, and Svea, 12 months.

Mr Rosedale was training to be a mountain guide and had bought a house at Chamonix in south east France in preparation for completing his training in about two years.

Dr Rosedale, from Marlborough, said: "We, his family, are shocked and devastated by the sudden loss of a faithful and devoted husband and father, a son to be proud of and an exemplar of a brother.

Large snow slide

"He died well-equipped, highly experienced and doing what he loved to do, and did supremely well."

The climber's father, who himself was the official doctor accompanying the 1972 Everest team lead by Sir Chris Bonington, added: "As an outdoor instructor at Marlborough College he has inspired several generations of young climbers and adventurers.

"He will be greatly missed by them, by staff and especially by his family."

On Wednesday rescuers found Mr Rosedale's body, along with fellow climber William Wilkinson, in Number Three Gully on the north face of Ben Nevis following a large snow slide.

Mr Wilkinson, 34, from Inverness was in the group of five tackling a gully on the UK's highest mountain.

Another man, Chris Astill, 54, from Tideswell in Derbyshire, died in a separate avalanche on Liathach, in Torridon.