Born 29 December 1914 in Springburn, Glasgow, Tom Weir MBE was a working-class boy with a keen love of the outdoors, including rambling and climbing.
After working as an apprentice grocer, inspired by other writers, Tom turned his hand to writing about his own experiences. He received renown as a columnist for the monthly DC Thomson magazine, The Scots Magazine, which he contributed to for over 50 years. His writings in The Scots Magazine contributed to some of his books, in titles such as Weir’s Way and Tom Weir’s Scotland. In total, Tom wrote 13 books and contributed to 3.
He was also popularly known as a broadcaster, and is well remembered for his long-running TV series Weir’s Way, which he hosted from 1976 to 1987 and which won him a Scottish Television Personality of the Year award.
In his relation to ScotWays, Tom Weir was our Honorary Vice-President from 1976. He acted in this role for 20 years before his election as our Honorary President following the death of former Honorary President Professor Sir Robert Grieve. Tom Weir was Honorary President from 1996 to 2001.
He was President of the Scottish Mountaineering Club from 1984 to 1986, and he acted as an executive member of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
Tom championed for the protection of the Scottish environment and worked for the improvement of access to the countryside in Scotland. For his work he received a John Muir Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.
There is a tribute to Tom Weir in the form of a statue at Loch Lomond, at Balmaha Bay, which was erected on the 100th year anniversary of his birth.
