Doug Scott has climbed the highest mountains on the word's seven continents
Two elder statesmen of the mountaineering community have been appointed patrons of the body representing climbers, hillwalkers and mountaineers in England and Wales.
Everest summiteer Doug Scott and parliamentarian Lord Greaves were appointed patrons at the last national council meeting of the British Mountaineering Council.
They replace George Band and Alan Blackshaw who both died this year.
Nottingham-born Scott, 70, was first Briton, along with Dougal Haston, to summit Everest during Chris Bonington’s 1975 expedition. A past president of the Alpine Club, he was awarded a Piolet d’Or this year for his contribution to mountaineering.
Lord Greaves, 69, is a Liberal Democrat peer who has been involved with the BMC for many years and is part of the council’s access, conservation and environment group.
He has been instrumental in strengthening the BMC’s links within Parliament and being a keen climber and hillwalker.
He put forward amendments to the Countryside and Rights of Way Act and the Marine and Coastal Access Act and asked questions in Parliament on behalf of the BMC. He is a member of the recently established all-party parliamentary group on mountaineering.
The pair join existing patrons Sir Chris Bonington, Lord Chorley and Ian McNaught-Davis.
- A memorial celebration will be held for George Band on Tuesday 20 December at the Royal Geographical Society in London.
