A new award in recognition of the vital contribution volunteers make to the BMC and mountaineering will be launched next month.

The first recipients of the George Band Award for Exceptional Voluntary Contribution will be Neville McMillan and George Steele, who between them have given over 60 years of service to the BMC Technical Committee. During that period they have been involved in numerous equipment investigations and helped to establish international standards.

George Band was a member of the 1953 Everest expedition which saw Hillary and Tenzing make the historic first ascent. In 1955 with Joe Brown he made the first ascent of Kangchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain. A longtime supporter of the BMC, George was BMC President from 1996-1999, and has also been President of the Alpine Club. In 2008 he was awarded the OBE for services to mountaineering and charity, and he is currently Chairman of the Himalayan Trust (UK)

George Band will present the award to Neville McMillan and George Steele at the BMC Annual Dinner, which takes place at Plas y Brenin, Capel Curig on Saturday 16 April.

The BMC couldn’t function without the contributions made generously and selflessly by hundreds of volunteers, who give up their own time and provide expertise and energy for the benefit of all climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers.

Find out about volunteering opportunities with the BMC.

 

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