BONINGTON: MOUNTAINEER & Olympic Gold on Everest | Film & Talk with Director Keith Partridge
14 Mar

BONINGTON: MOUNTAINEER & Olympic Gold on Everest | Film & Talk with Director Keith Partridge

business
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12
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2h30m
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£12 Full, £10 Conc
Back by popular demand, join us for another special screening of the film Bonington:Mountaineer with intro and Q&A Director Keith Partridge. Following the interval, Keith bring a new talk to Rheged, recounting the fascinating story of the Olympic Gold Medal to the top of Everest, with Kenton Cool, honouring a pledge made by the pioneers of the 1922 British Everest Expedition
 
BONINGTON: MOUNTAINEER (12)

At the age of 80, mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington stares toward the iconic stack of Orkney sandstone towering above an Atlantic surf. To climb the Old Man at this stage of life feels an almost crushing prospect. In search of catharsis once more he wonders if he can summon the strength...

He remembers being the first to set foot on the top of the Old Man of Hoy, 50 long years before when he had youth on his side. As recent events threaten to overwhelm him, he reflects on a life lived to the full, of family and of epic expeditions and first ascents on some of the world’s most challenging mountains.

Stories of friendship, love, risk, and devastating loss run deep through this intimate journey of one man’s dream. Bonington's drive for exploration is echoed in the first British ascent of the north wall of the Eiger, new routes on Mont Blanc, the ascent of ‘The Old Man of Hoy’ and then to the greater ranges where he is the first to stand on the virgin summits of Annapurna 2, Nuptse and the Central Tower of Paine, followed by landmark expedition success on the South Face of Annapurna and Everest South West face.

This film looks retrospectively, from his rock-climbing days in the UK through to visionary ascents on the high peaks of the Himalaya and shares the remarkable and poignant life of one of the world’s best-known mountaineers – Sir Chris Bonington.

Talk: Olympic Gold Medal on Everest - a homage to the pioneers of the 1922 British Everest Expedition

In 1922, the British Everest Expedition almost reached the summit, fearful for their lives in a gathering storm they retreated just 600m from the highest point on Earth. Their achievements were considered so huge that the team were awarded Olympic Gold for Alpinism at the Chamonix Winter Olympics of 1924. It was promised at the medal ceremony that one of these prized pieces of mountaineering history would be taken to the summit and that nothing would be spared to make it happen. But, it didn't happen and with the loss of Mallory and Irvine on that fateful expedition their promise was forgotten.

In the run-up to the London Games of 2012, Kenton Cool and Keith Partridge embark on a mission to honour that pledge and fulfil 88 years of Olympic history, 90 years of Everest history and pay their respects to the team of 1922.

Join Adventure Filmmaker and Cinematographer, Keith Partridge, as he offers a personal insight into climbing Everest and how he took inspiration from some of the all-time greats of mountain exploration.

7pm
2 hours 15 minutes with a 15 minute interval
£12 Full £10 Concessions
Times
14 Mar
BONINGTON: MOUNTAINEER & Olympic Gold on Everest | Film & Talk with Director Keith Partridge