A COUPLE well into their 70s are ignoring their advanced years to carry out a seven-day, high-altitude trek across the Himalayas.

Former city teacher Ronnie Halley, 76, and wife Margaret, 74, will cross mountainous jungle terrain in Nepal to raise money for the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).

The grandparents of 12, who live in Dalkeith, Midlothian, have collected nearly £3000 towards their £5000 target, and will walk at more than 4000 feet above sea level – three times Ben Nevis's height.

Mr Halley – who had to have a hip replacement after falling off a horse 20 years ago – is an ex-maths and physics teacher at Boroughmuir High School.

He said: "My wife and I are both very active people, and after we retired we didn't just want to sit about all day.

"We applied to do some work with the VSO back in 1990, and after we were accepted we lived and taught in Malawi for two years."

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