DON 'Matty' Matthews is quite literally the Forest's top man...at 80 he has just climbed a mountain!
Mind you he has been up this one five times before, but decided it would be the nicest possible way he could think of to celebrate the big 80 by clambering to the peak of Skirrid Fawr and taking all his family with him.
Mr Matthews, of Ruardean Woodside, took the two and half mile climb to the peak at 1,560 feet in his stride.
The former Listers and Xerox employee is well known for his walks round the Forest – when the Review caught up with him last week he had just returned from a stroll to Speech house.
But it was his ambition to climb Skirrid Fawr near Abergavenny on his 80th birthday and now he is getting all the family hooked on walking.
"It's a smashing spot and I hope to return one day. But before that I have another climb planned to the top of Hay Bluff," he said.
While the family were on the trail wife Janet was home cooking the dinner for them all – "and it was very nice too," said Matty.
Mr Matthews was accompanied on his climb by son Robin, daughters Kathy Morgan and Tina Phillips, grandchildren Terri Morgan, 16, Lia Morgan, 6, Jake Matthews, 16, Josua Matthews, 7, Samantha French, Les Hale and his faithful Jack Russell dog, Pops.
•Mission accomplished... Matty Matthews with his family at the top of a Welsh mountain.