Barbara Reid, 90 years old, blind and deaf, reaches top of North Berwick Law

Barbara Reid has poor balance and usually requires the help of a wheeled frame to walk.

But despite these challenges, she was inspired to take on the Law climb after learning of another member of the community doing so in memory of their parents.

She said: “I was talking to another member of [charity] Coastal Community Connections and she said she was celebrating the anniversary of her parents’ engagement at the top of the Law.

“I thought: ‘That’s a good idea for my 90th year, I’ll climb the Law.’”

Barbara has now accomplished the impressive feat, completing the challenge on June 13. The ascent and descent both took one hour.

She told the Courier how she felt upon reaching the top: “It was exhilarating and gratifying that I have succeeded in doing it because it was extremely difficult.

“I was near the top and wanted to stop for a rest and they said, ‘You’re nearly there, just keep going’ so I just kept going.”

Barbara said that she felt great relief when reaching the summit but she “wasn’t surprised” because she knew she was going to make it.

Despite saying she was not a very emotional person, her son Ken said that she was grinning at the top as a result of what she had achieved.

Barbara in the car park before setting off with (from left) Ken, Hilde, David and Robert

Barbara also wanted to thank all the people who helped her in her practice runs, and those who accompanied her to the top, as without them it would not have been possible.

She said: “A very big thank you to all the people that helped me in every way.

“The ones that were there had quite a task getting me up that hill!”

An avid advocate of environmental and ecological causes, Barbara was raising money for Tree Aid, a charity close to her heart – but she could not quite believe how much she had raised.

She said: “The last time I looked we were just a few pounds short of £2,000.

“I didn’t think I could raise that much money.”

Barbara celebrated the achievement with a bar of her favourite dark chocolate and a meal in town, but admitted that a few people had to take a nap after her climb.

Son Ken said: “We took a bar of chocolate up to celebrate with, but we completely forgot to hand it over at the top!

“So we did it at the bottom instead.”

Barbara resting on the bench near the top with her son Ken

Barbara added: “We went out in the evening, all the helpers and me went out for a meal.

“All the helpers that hauled me up took a nap when they got home.”

Many of her helpers called her climb inspirational but Barbara was just happy that she could still do great things despite her age.

She said: “A lot of people said I was an inspiration, and I suppose I feel that way myself – a bit big-headed.

“A lot of people my age can’t do things like this. I thank the Lord all the time that I am so blessed with good health.”

When asked if she planned any other great feats in the future, she was quite certain that the answer was no.

“There are no challenges in the rest of my life, I don’t think, even if I live to be 100, I don’t think I’ll be challenging anybody,” she said.

Visit justgiving.com/fundraising/barbara-reid4 to donate to Barbara’s fundraiser.