Pete Boardman and Joe Tasker on Kangchenjunga's West Ridge. Photo: Doug Scott

An archive of a renowned mountaineer who died on Everest more than 30 years ago will be preserved thanks to a Lottery grant.

Papers and writings of Joe Tasker will be made accessible to the public after the Mountain Heritage Trust secured funding of more than £40,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Penrith-based trust said the Joe Tasker archive comprises correspondence, papers, photographs and literary manuscripts relating to his life as a premier climber and mountaineer plus his ability to illustrate this in outstanding photographic and literary formats.

A MHT spokesperson said: “Particularly poignant are letters written home to his parents while on expedition as well as their responses to him.

Joe Tasker, left. Photo: Doug Scott

“Joe’s family is extensive and their love, memory and respect have resulted in this collection being donated to MHT in order to share Joe’s achievements with an aim to inspire and stimulate similar talent.”

Joe Tasker, together with Peter Boardman, lost his life on Mount Everest in 1982. The Boardman Tasker Literary Award was established in their memory, rewarding talent for writing gripping and thought-provoking climbing literature which the MHT said Tasker himself excelled at.

It said the collection complements the Chris Bonington Collection in that they were friends and climbing partners.

Julie Summers, chair of MHT, said: “We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has recognised the enormous contribution Joe Tasker’s collection will make to mountaineering heritage and we look forward to being able to celebrate his inspiring achievements widely through exhibitions and education programmes in the future.”