March4Pickles this weekend

FAMILY members and friends of the Antrim mountaineer who passed away in a tragic accident in 2022 are taking part in fundraiser in his memory at the weekend.

William Onion (33), a former soldier with the Royal Corps of Signals who served in Afghanistan, had been living in Bournemouth with his partner Nichol where he ran a business bringing people together ‘through social group hikes, bootcamp fitness classes and personal training’.

He fell around 200 meters in Snowdonia on 11 November, at the same time as the two-minute Remembrance Day silence.

Mr Onion, known as ‘Pickles’, was originally from Muckamore and is survived by his parents Alastair and Julie, sister Amy, and his partner Nichol.

Alastair is organising another local ‘March for Pickles’ on Saturday, February 21.

The route, which is just over seven miles, begins from the Royal British Legion in Antrim at 4pm.

The £5 entry which will be spread out over three charities, Lough Neagh Rescue, Rock2Recovery and Llanberis Mountain Rescue.

Alastair Onion said: “It’s not a race, it’s a walk, it’s a dander. It’s a chance for people to come together and chat. We all have our demons and our grief - and talking and walking is a great help.”