Volunteer Week 2025

Jim McCormack

We start off volunteer week by celebrating the life of someone who contributed a huge amount to orienteering over the years. This heartfelt tribute comes from Terry of STAG in memory of his friend Jim McCormack.

Jim had been involved with STAG for over 30 years. Not a regular competitor himself but more a ‘hands on’ approach including part of the Lochaber 2001 S6Days Equipment Team and always available to lend a hand. Over the years with permission from his good lady, Marie, he was able to get time away to join in Club Weekends including The Purple Thistle @ Balmacara and wee day outings to support his former colleagues from Kilbowie Outdoor Centre @ ECKO’s local events. Being a Geography Teacher his passion was maps and making learning FUN and taking young people from Lanarkshire, where he himself was born and bred, into the Great Outdoors through the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme where he was an Expedition Leader.

On retiring around 2017 it didn’t take much to persuade Jim to take on the role as STAG’s North Lanarkshire Education Liaison Officer and thanks to his charm and personality the Club was able to convince several schools to invest in a Permanent Course on their Campus. Specific CPD opportunities were also offered. His final input was to inspire the unique permanent course adjacent to the Regional Sports Centre at Ravenscraig where the NLC DoE Training is now based. A very simple Play Park and Running Track but with enough ‘lights’ to place markers well out of reach. STAG’s next challenge here is to find a way to make maps available to the Local Community. Sadly in late 2023 Jim, an active individual and particularly keen cyclist, fell ill and cancer was diagnosed. He underwent several operations and was convinced that he was on the road to recovery but sadly in July 2024 the disease returned and he passed away peacefully in October 2024 as he would have wished with his family at his side. An awesome individual with an outstanding love not just for his family but for everyone he came in contact with. As Jim would say “Maps are MAGIC!”

STAG will build on his legacy over the coming years. A true inspiration, RIP Jim.