Lake District's longest-serving fell top assessor retires after 16 years

The Lake District's longest-serving fell top assessor has reflected on an "incredible" 16 years, as he retires.

Jon Bennett, 61, takes turns in a three-person team to climb Helvellyn through the winter to provide summit weather reports each day.

Clocking up more than 750 ascents of the 950m (3,116ft) peak, Mr Bennett said it "was getting that bit steeper" and "it was the right time to stop".

He said his focus was now on his role as a boat master on Windermere.

Fell top assessors check summit conditions and record the temperature, wind speed and snow depth to add to the Met Office weather forecast, and to ultimately help keep people safe.

The team of three work from December until Easter Monday, with Mr Bennett's final shift on Thursday.

"It has been an incredible role to have," he explained.

"But the mountain seems to be getting that little bit steeper... I will miss it but this is the right time to stop."

The 61-year-old described being a fell top assessor as "one of his two dream jobs", and added he was now focusing on his other role as a boat master.

Mr Bennett joined Windermere Lake Cruises in 2008 which he said he said was "very rewarding".

He explained the decision to retire as an assessor had been hard, but added he would still be heading out onto the hills on a regular basis.

"I met a man climbing Scafell Pike on his 80th birthday and thought, 'what an incredible way to mark that milestone'.

"It stuck in my head and now that is my plan too," he said.

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