It was impressive to see five of the remaining 1953 Everest Expedition at Sir Edmund Hillary’s funeral in Auckland, New Zealand -George Lowe, George Band, Mike Westmacott, Jan Morris and Alf Gregory (aged 96!). Luminaries of New Zealand mountaineering were there including Ed Cotter (first ascent Mukut Parbat 1951), Norm Hardie (2nd ascent Kangenjunga the day after Band and Jo Brown), Guy Cotter (4 time Everest summitter), Lydia Brady (first oxygenless Everest woman summitter and solo), etc etc. Jim Whittaker represented US climbers.
-Hugh Logan, New Zealand