George Band who was with Hillary on John Hunt's 1953 Everest Expedition, and is currently Chairman of the Himalayan Trust UK, writes as follows:

So many tributes to the extra-ordinary life and achievements of Ed Hillary have been made both privately and in the media that it is hardly necessary to add to them here, except to offer our deep condolences, on behalf of the Club, to Lady June Hillary and the members of his family.

He was accorded a State Funeral on 22nd January by the New Zealand Government who most generously invited us surviving Everest 1953 climbers and our wives as official guests, so the AC was well represented: Alf Gregory, George Lowe, Michael Westmacott and myself, plus Jan Morris, who as James Morris, the Times correspondent, made the scoop of his life in time for the Coronation, thereby immortalising the names of Hillary and Tenzing.

A tsunami of emotion swept over the people of New Zealand. Led by their Prime Minister, Helen Clark, they mourned their greatest Kiwi, lying in state in Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland, with his Everest ice-axe and Maori ceremonial staff atop the casket, and a selection of his medals and decorations on velvet cushions at his feet. After a most efficiently organised and moving Service, we moved on to a special Reception hosted by the Governor General, Anand Satyanand, who represented Her Majesty, the Queen, not only officially but also personally at the Funeral. This was followed by a more informal 'Mountaineers' Farewell' organised by the New Zealand Alpine Club at which a dozen of his friends recalled facets of Sir Edmund's varied life. We offer our deep sympathy to Lady June and members of the Hillary and Mulgrew families. As Chairman of The Himalayan Trust UK, I have pledged continued commitment and support as long as required to the work of Sir Edmund's Himalayan Trust, which he created to help improve the lives of the Sherpas and hill people of Nepal. Even more than Everest, he would like this to be a perpetual memorial to his life and achievements.

A number of people have asked whether there will be some kind of Memorial/Thanksgiving event in the UK for Sir Edmund. Like Lord Hunt, he was a Knight of the Garter, so as a minimum ceremony there will be the laying down of his personal banner on the High Altar of St George's Chapel, Windsor. I am told this can be done at a special Evensong or, as was the case with Lord Hunt, at a full Memorial Service, much depending on the wishes of the family. The Chapel can hold up to 800 and the date would be advertised so that people may apply for tickets to attend. Consideration is being given to organising another event perhaps with several speakers covering facets of Sir Edmund's varied life.