The Mountain Heritage Trust were delighted that this collection came to the Trust, items of which will be included in appropriate, future events/exhibitions when telling the stories of eminent mountaineers and their achievements. Pete’s collection of items joins other important collections within the Trust such as Chris Bonington, Joe Brown, Doug Scott, John Hunt, and many other pioneering climbers. It also complements the collection of Joe Tasker with whom Pete did some notable climbs, and who sadly was lost with Pete on Mount Everest in 1982. It is in Pete and Joe’s name that the Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature is set up in commemoration of their lives and literary legacy.
An important piece of the collection was the aforementioned ‘slide table’, which the family have always believed was made by Dick Renshaw, another climber from the same era. The table, which Pete always referred to as “Dick’s table” was used for sorting Pete’s slides. These slides demonstrated Pete’s photographic ability used throughout his published books and the lectures that he gave. The slide collection itself will help in telling the stories of Pete’s climbing career, which paved the way from first attempts at previously unclimbed routes, through to the fatal attempt on Everest’s North East Ridge.
The slide table is in pride of place in the Mountain Heritage Trust office at Blencathra and will be available for researchers and users of the vast slide collections that the Trust holds.
The plaque was made for the table to commemorate Pete reads - “Made by Dick Renshaw who gave this table to Pete Boardman. Much used by Pete when selecting images for shows and publications”. Donated by Pete’s family in 2018”.
Ms Terry Tasker
Boardman Tasker Trustee
