RIP Sir Ed

[vilakins]

Sir Edmund Hillary died today. Some of you might just know him as the guy who climbed Mt Everest--"knocked the bastard off" as he put it--but he's a lot more to us here. He was a great and humble man, an adventurer, a role-model and inspiration, the employer of my father (as a kid) for a beekeeping holiday job, a humanitarian much beloved by the Nepalese, and Greg's hero. I bought Greg a framed $5 note (they have his picture on them) signed by Sir Ed last year at a charity auction, which delighted him.

Sir Ed made the world a better place by being here.

Comments

[kernezelda]

I heard this today on National Public Radio, and was saddened. I didn't know of all his accomplishments, but I knew he was a humanitarian. His death is the world's loss.

[kalinda001.livejournal.com]

That's sad to hear. What I have read of Sir Edmund Hilary, he sounded like an incredible man. The world is lessened by his loss but he has left us a wonderful legacy and example.

[florencisalesas.livejournal.com]

I known a bit about all that, not only the Everest hit (even nothing I had no idea about the connection with your father, of course).
It is a sad new :(

[norda.livejournal.com]

It put a damper on our dinner here. He really was wonderful.

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry I never had the opportunity to meet the man; truly a legend is gone and we are all the poorer for his loss.

[imhilien.livejournal.com]

I was so sad to hear that he had passed away today - I always admired him for the work he had done in Nepal.

I once was lucky to see him at a book signing for fantasy author Raymond Feist - I hadn't known he liked reading fantasy too...

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, he was a great man and will not be forgotten!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Huh! That's very cool! I'd never have guessed that.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Over here his ascent of Everest was known affectionately as NZ's present to the Queen on her Coronation. His team did a lot of training for the climb in Snowdonia and are still held in love and admiration there. He was a great and good man, we need more of his kind and the world is poorer with out him.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

They've been coveing his accomplishments - both the mountain and the humanitarian work - on all the news broadcasts. A truly wonderful man.

[communicator.livejournal.com]

That is a wonderful piece about how beloved he is in Nepal. Nobody could ask for a better memorial than to be remembered like that.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

I was sad to hear it on the radio this morning :0(

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yes, I watched, and we've recorded the documentary that was on last night.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

They had a a couple of Nepalese on TV last night saying how revered he was. One even referred to him as being a god to them.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I didn't realise he spent time there! I'm glad Wales has a connection.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

I remembered seeing a piece on Wales Today, the BBC News for Wales, the details can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/3050549.stm

It was broadcast to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the climb. My memory must be getting better

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Ah, I realise now that I've seen clips of those original planning sessions in documentaries.