We didn’t have Lindbergh, or Earheart, or Amundsen. We had Sir Edmund Hillary who died today having scaled the peak of fame.
He will be remembered for being the first to summit Mt. Everest and for the many humanitarian projects that he launched in the East. Ed, as he preferred to be known, was the first man to stand at both poles and the top of the world. He detested formality and for years listed his occupation as “beekeeper,” that of his father. “The whole world around us lay spread out like a giant relief map,” he told one interviewer. “I am a lucky man. I have had a dream and it has come true, and that is not a thing that happens often to men.”
Ambassador, author, adventurer, humanitarian. Sir Edmund Hillary, KCOBE
For a wonderful slideshow from The New York Times, please click here.
Hello Mr. E!
First, I wanted to thank you for the blog visit. Second, I had heard about Sir Edmund and have many of the same thoughts. I had read a book recently: Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson, and David Oliver Relin about one man’s humanitarian efforts in the Middle East after a failed Everest attempt. Sir Hillary was one of his first supporters. Good Read.
I will be back to visit often! 🙂
love your elegant posts. may i add you to my blog envy list?
how chic art thou.
Dearest Sir E,
Another spirited adventure shall be celebrating 50 very soon and me thinks that it would quite an honour for you to pay tribute to this “Prince” of a man. I shant give it all away. Now, run along and take time to post a Happy Birthday to H.S.H.
Will you be so kind as to amuse us with your discovery.
Sincerely,
Mrs. PVE
Ms. Katiedid,
Thank you! A pleasure to have you here. Sounds like a good read.
Mrs. PVE,
Thank you for your comments. I’m honoured that you’re reading. Off to research… H.S.H. (His Serene Highness..?)
I like that Sir Edmund wanted to be remembered more for his philanthropic efforts in regards to the Sherpa community in Tibet & Nepal than for being the first.
Happy Weekend!
I love this quote of his, “In some ways I believe I epitomise the average New Zealander: I have modest abilities, I combine these with a good deal of determination, and I rather like to succeed.” So charming.
The marks of a true gentleman.
Just what I was going to say. A gentleman. The ultimate compliment. They are fewer and fewer.