Famous explorer visits Ilkley

THE man behind Sir Edmund Hillary's successful conquest of Mount Everest has descended on Ilkley. George Lowe was a close friend and climbing companion of the first man to conquer the famous peak. Mr Lowe, a distinguished New Zealand transatlantic explorer and Himalayan mountaineer, reached 28,000 ft during Hillary's famous 1953 expedition. The distinguished explorer is a friend of Ilkley Probus Club member Gordon Hamflett. Mr Lowe addressed the club's meeting. Mr Hamflett said: "With Hillary he had been instrumental in establishing the Himalayan Trust which, since the Everest expedition, had brought schools and the Hillary Hospital to the Sherpa community in Nepal, and funded scholarships to enable Sherpa boys and girls to attend secondary school away from their home area." Mr Lowe said the Everest expedition had been a fantastic team effort, with a vital contribution from the Sherpa community. Although many years had passed since Hillary's conquest, he said there was no question of Everest becoming an easy touch. Mr Hamflett said: "It has not been tamed and one in four people who attempt to climb it are killed." (002-9-AH)