CONQUEST OF EVEREST

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27147, 17 September 1953, Page 10

CONQUEST OF EVEREST

LECTURES IN LONDON FESTIVAL HALL CROWD OF 3000 CHEERS EXPEDITION MEMBERS (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 16. Three thousand persons packed the Royal Festival HaU in London last night and cheered for several minutes when members of toe British Everest expedition walked on to the stage for a gala “first night” of a senes of lectures on the ascent of the world s highest mountain. In the audience was toe Earl of Athlone, a great uncle of Queen Elizabeth, and his wife. Princess Alice. When members of the expedition were introduced to the audience, there was a special cheer for Sir Edmund Hillary. Then, aided by hundreds of coloured slides, individual members of the expedition led the audience from the hafi in the heart of London to the summit of 29,002 ft Mount Everest. Sir Edmund Hillary said that when he reached the summit, he took a picture showing the slope down— in case there are any disbelieving people in the world, and I have smee learned there are.” The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will attend a private lecture given by members of the expedition. On trie previous evening, Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir John Hunt, and Mr A. Gregory provided members of the Royal Geographical Society and Lady Hillary with a vivid impression of the ascent. Sir Edmund Hillary will speak at all 11 lectures at the Royal Festival Hall. Sir John Hunt and Mr Gregory will alternate with Mr George Lowe, who will speak seven times, and Messrs C. G. Wylie. T. D. Bourdillon, and C. W. F. Noyce, other members of the expedition. Commenting on the first lecture, “The Times” reported that it became tenser and more grim as Sir John Hunt continued. “It was almost with relief that one heard Mr Gregory’s cheerful northern accent break through the cold chill that had gathered during the account of the ascent of the higher reaches of Everest. Through the banter between the lecturers and the human stories about each other and other members of the party, there shone the sense of comradeship and teamwork that they have always insisted was toe cause of the conquest of Everest.” “Moment of Dejection” Sir John Hunt admitted, to a moment of dejection when he saw Sir Edmund Hillary. Tensing. Mr Lowe and other members of the assault and support parties returning, for they were plodding along wearily and without any sign of elation. Then Mr Lowe waved an ice stxe “and made several rude gestures with it in the direction of Everest, and we knew everything was all right.” He also said: "I think we all went a

trifle mad. and I found myself hugging Ed.—an experience I don’t want again.”

The lecturers spent most of the day at the Royal Festival Hall rehearsing and preparing and Sir Edmund Hillary was greatly impressed by toe hall. “I have seen a few recently, but this beats them all,” he said. Sir Edmund Hillary is most popular with autograph hunters, whom he obliges with a smile. The “News Chronicle” publishes a cartoon showing a group of small boys outside the hall labelled the “Hillary Fan Club.” The caption says: “Now Remember, all you’ve got to say is ‘May I have your autograph Sir Edmund?’” There seems to be something of a black market in autographs, for one “hunter” asked Sir Edmund Hillary to sign on a piece of paper on which there was also what was anparently the signature of Tensing. “I’ll sign willinglyhe said, “but this is not Tensing’s signature. Somebody must have written it for him.”

Sir Edmund Hillary added that Tensing could write only one word, and that was his name. He.could not read and Sir Edmund Hillary used often to read his letters for him. Many came from Indians and were written in flowery language which Tensing did not understand. Sir Edmund Hillarv used therefore to translate them in terms such .as “jolly good climb,” “well done. ’ and “Whacko,” whicri pleased Tensing just as much.