Edmund Hillary

Sir Edmund Hillary was born on 20 July in 1919.  He and Tenzing Norgay were the first to summit the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest in 1953.  The Queen knighted him that same year – very early on in her reign.

He spent a good part of the rest of his life working to benefit the people of Nepal.  An inspiration.

Sir Ed was a New Zealander.  Sadly he is no longer with us, having died in 2008.

He was much loved as a true Kiwi – he is said to have said on reaching the summit – "we knocked the bastard off".  He worked as a beekeeper in the summer and climbed in the winter.  He is on our $5 dollar note.