Joe Brown, originally a plumber’s apprentice from Manchester, took the British climbing world by storm after WWII. In the 50s and 60s, Joe’s dazzling performance on rock pushed British climbing standards and, in 1955, he climbed Kanchenjunga: the third highest mountain in the world. Joe Brown died on 15 May 2020. We released this today (25 May) to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the first ascent of Kanchenjunga by Joe Brown and George Band. This film by Director Alun Hughes, George Smith, and Ray Saunders is a rare interview with Joe, and stands as a tribute to this legendary climber.
What I can't understand is why everyone appears to preface any item about Joe Brown with saying "originally a plumber from Manchester..." It does not seem to apply to anyone else er "Adam Ondra a student from Finkleberg University..." Well you probably get my drift but the media do it all the time. It really has no relevance to his climbing. Is it this 'class' thing about needing to say he's not from Oxbridge this lad. There were other working class climbers around at the time and before, the Creag Ddu in Scotland, Birkett and Peascod in the Lakes, and so forth. But for Joe and to a certain extent, Whillans 'it's the plumbers from Manchester'. God, I don't even know where Fawcett or Moffat or even Ondra are from and is it really important, are we really interested? Does it somehow make them a better climber? Rant over.
Comments
Fantastic.
That was a treat. Wonderful.
He died on April 15th.
Great stuff, most enjoyable. Thank you.
What I can't understand is why everyone appears to preface any item about Joe Brown with saying "originally a plumber from Manchester..." It does not seem to apply to anyone else er "Adam Ondra a student from Finkleberg University..." Well you probably get my drift but the media do it all the time. It really has no relevance to his climbing. Is it this 'class' thing about needing to say he's not from Oxbridge this lad. There were other working class climbers around at the time and before, the Creag Ddu in Scotland, Birkett and Peascod in the Lakes, and so forth. But for Joe and to a certain extent, Whillans 'it's the plumbers from Manchester'. God, I don't even know where Fawcett or Moffat or even Ondra are from and is it really important, are we really interested? Does it somehow make them a better climber? Rant over.
Loved the interview btw. Lovely man.