It was announced today that Mike Westmacott, last surviving climbing member of the 1953 Everest expedition, had died aged 87. He was unable to be in the summit team due to illness but was instrumental in finding a route through the icefall and keeping it open throughout the expedition He retired to live in Cumbria and I was lucky enough to meet him a few years ago when he was in his mid- 80s.

My wife and I are voluntary gardeners at Holehird gardens in Windermere, and this frail looking old man offered to help. My job that day was to strim a steeply sloping meadow of high grass and weeds, and without hesitation Mike picked up a strimmer and spent the whole morning working with this heavy machine. A remarkable man.