14 Facts About Chris Bonington

Chris Bonington's career has included nineteen expeditions to the Himalayas, including four to Mount Everest.

Chris Bonington was part of the party that made the first British ascent of the South West Pillar of the Aiguille du Dru in 1958, and the first ascent of the Central Pillar of Freney on the south side of Mont Blanc in 1961 with Don Whillans, Ian Clough and Jan Dlugosz.

Chris Bonington has written or edited numerous books, made many television appearances, and received many honours, including the chancellorship of Lancaster University from 2005 to 2014.

Chris Bonington is honorary president of the Hiking Club and Lancaster University Mountaineering Club and has a boat named after him among Lancaster University Boat Club's fleet.

Chris Bonington is a patron, and former president, of the British Mountaineering Council.

Chris Bonington succeeded Edmund Hillary as the Honorary President of Mountain Wilderness, an international NGO dedicated to the preservation of mountain areas, in their natural and cultural aspects.

In 1974 Chris Bonington received the Founder's Medal of the Royal Geographical Society.

Chris Bonington was presented with the Golden Eagle Award for services to the outdoors in 2008 by the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild.

Chris Bonington was the subject of This Is Your Life in 2003 when he was surprised by Michael Aspel at a hotel in Heathrow.

Chris Bonington was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1976 in recognition of the previous year's successful ascent of Everest and was knighted in 1996 for his services to the sport.

Chris Bonington was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2010 Birthday Honours for his services to the Outward Bound Trust.

Chris Bonington was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Cumbria in 2004.

Chris Bonington briefly became the oldest known person to summit Mount Everest in April 1985, at the age of 50.

Chris Bonington was surpassed by Richard Bass, who summited later that same season at 55 years old, five years older than Bonington.