Tributes paid after former North-East transport chief dies in 200ft plunge (From The Northern Echo)

Tributes paid after former North-East transport chief dies in 200ft plunge

10:44am Tuesday 21st February 2012 in Tyne and Wear News

A FORMER North-East transport chief who plunged 200ft to his death whilst training for a fundraising trek has been described as a 'lover of life.'

Peter Huntley, 55, was walking with a friend in snowy conditions in the Lake District on Sunday when he slipped and fell.

The former managing director of Go North East bus company had been training for a fundraising trek to the North Pole in April when he fell from Blea Water, near High Street summit.

A keen walker, cyclist and climber, he hoped to raise £10,000 for national transport charity Transaid with a trek from Russia to the Arctic circle due to take place in April.

The father-of-three from Gateshead was walking with his friend and former colleague John Taylor, director of TAS transport specialist, when he fell at around 2.30pm.

A spokesperson for the Great North Air Ambulance said it was a "difficult rescue" and involved several members of Penrith Mountain Rescue.

They said: "Conditions underfoot were quite dangerous and it was difficult to access the spot where he had fallen to.

"They worked on him with advanced medical care for quite some time but he was pronounced dead at 4pm."

Mr Huntley has been praised by his former employees at Go North East transport company for working "tirelessly" to transform the business.

Before joining Go North East, Mr Huntley worked for TAS consultancy, which he set up in 1989.

He stepped down from his role as managing director for Go North East at the end of December after six years.

He later moved to Primrose Grove in Preston, Lancashire.

A tribute released by Go North East said: "It's with great sadness that we confirm the tragic death of former managing director Peter Huntley.

"This has come as a great shock to all his former colleagues.

"Above all Peter was a lover of life and lived it to the full.

"He will be sadly missed by us all."

Another colleague Chris Cheek said: "It was a tragic accident, and our only consolation is that he was doing something he loved on a beautiful day, full of plans and optimism for the future."

On Go North East's Facebook page, Mick Foo Parker wrote: "Tragic news.

Peter made what GNE is today, with bright and colourful buses, we should now have a bus with his name blazed across the front. R.I.P."

Phil Tonks of Bus Users UK wrote on Twitter: "Shocked and saddened to hear about the death of former Go North East MD Peter Huntley.

"One of the bus industry's true forward thinkers."