Munro climb's in the bag for charity champ

A RETIRED GP has set off on an epic bid to climb all 283 Munros to raise money for charity in memory of a popular Capital priest.

Dr Gerry McPartlin, 66, who worked out of Moira Park Surgery near Jock's Lodge for 21 years, climbed his first Munro, Ben Lomond, on Saturday after a final gruelling training session with Scotland's "Mr Judo" George Kerr, pictured.

Typically it takes ten years or more to tackle all the Munros, but Dr McPartlin is attempting the feat in four months, to raise money towards a fund for the poor in Kenya set up in memory of their mutual friend, Monsignor David Gemmell, who died in March 2008.

Dr McPartlin said: "I am both apprehensive and excited about this challenge.