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| Big Ben |
It would be a mild understatement to say that this is not a Mountain Guides typical stamping ground, yet thanks to my friend John Young invitation this is where I found my self a couple of weeks ago.
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| UK Parliamnent |
John and I were guests of The Outward Bound Trust who were hosting the Sir Chris Bonington Honorarium Lunch. It was in recognition of Bonington's life time support for the Trust's work and his uniquie ability to help them raise funds.
Having myself started my own journey in the world of outdoor education by working for Loch Eil Outward Bound back in the mid 1980's, it was wonderful to be a guest at this special event.
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| Members dining room |
There were eighty guests, including Trustees, Donors, representatives from the British Mountaineering Council, plus two other British Mountain Guides, Iain Peters a former director of Plas -Y-Brennin[England&Wales national outdoor training centre] and Alan Hines OBE- the only Britain to have climbed the worlds fourteen 8000 meter peaks.
Lunch was held in the Houses of Parliament members dinning room. It was preceded by a Champagne reception followed by lunch.
Between the courses there were speeches where Bonington was presented with awards for his work for Outward Bound. He responded with heart felt thanks. Plus he commented on the fact that when he was climbing, there was no telephones on Everest where as now it is possible to call home from the summit.
He said he was greatful to have done all his climbing before the advent of this technology. He did not outwardly criticise the modern developments, just greatful that they had not yet been invented when he was climbing. This could be interpreted as if you still want a real adventure, then leave your phone behind. I wonder how many of us would actually do this!?
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| Chris Bonington accepting his awards |
For me, it was a life event, something I could never imagined experiencing it was truely spectacular with lots of sensory overload. Then it was back on the plane and back to the mountains.
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| Heading back to Chamonix |
