Donald Tiso: Waterboys singer pays tribute

TRIBUTES have been paid to a former director of one of Scotland’s best-known outdoor clothing and equipment companies after he died in a climbing accident.

Donald Tiso died after a fall on a Munro in the Highlands. Picture: Contributed

Donald Tiso, whose father Graham Tiso established the firm that has carried the family name since the early 1960s, died after falling while walking on a Munro on Friday.

As the news of Mr Tiso’s death spread, friends and members of the climbing community used social networking sites yesterday to express their sadness and shock. Among those who paid tribute was Mike Scott, lead singer with Scottish band The Waterboys. He wrote on Twitter: “Farewell & thanks for all the fun and your help in tough times to my old friend Donald Tiso … RIP mate.”

Mr Tiso was closely involved in Edinburgh’s live music scene, and championed Scottish bands.

Sander van den Driesche, an editor with online music magazine Echoes and Dust, wrote: “Just found out Donald Tiso has died in a climbing accident. He was a great guy and supporter of Scottish music. Sad.”

The accident happened on Ben Starav, close to the village of Taynuilt, just before midnight on Friday. Mr Tiso, 50, was taken by helicopter to Belford Hospital in Fort William but pronounced dead on arrival.

Members of the climbing community also extended their condolences yesterday.

Andy Carling tweeted: “Donald and his brother were the people who first gave me a taste for mountains. He now joins those who have fallen.”

Alan Sowcroft, another friend, wrote of Mr Tiso: “I met him in November 2010 on an expedition to South Georgia.

“Donald was a very keen photographer and took some fantastic photographs of the wildlife in Antarctica. We have kept in touch ever since. He had a great sense of humour and will be missed.”

Throughout the day, tributes were also posted on Mr Tiso’s Facebook page.

Caroline Gilmour said he was a “fine man taken too soon” who would be “missed by so many of us”. Kirsty-Jacqueline Heidi Lingard wrote: “Much loved and will be terribly missed. A gent and adventurer to the last, all my love and thoughts with your loved ones … will very much miss your banter, Donald”.

Calvin Laidlaw described him as a “true gentleman”, adding: “I considered it a real privilege to have worked with Donald and the family for many years, and my thoughts are with family.”

The family were last night too upset to speak about the tragedy.

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