Wednesday, October 12th …..

I read a book years ago which listed some comments which the writer had overheard. Of course, I can’t remember any of them but today I overheard a comment which would deserve a place in the book. I turned on the TV and heard the extraordinary words: you don’t expect to wake up and find your nipples up near your shoulder blades, do you? Whew, what a relief to find it was a story about dodgy plastic surgeons.

There is a program on the ABC just before noon on some days, called Big Ideas, or something. Last week, they broadcast a debate, pitting Christians against Atheists. Great stuff! Today, somebody was attempting to interview an archaeologist who had the most boring voice but the most wonderful stories. (I think he was an archaeologist but he spoke a lot about botany).

He had done a lot of research on George Mallory who died while attempting to climb Everest in 1924. Apparently, there was another climber at the time called George Finch, an Australian, who should have been Mallory’s partner on the fatal climb to the summit. However, the Royal Geographical Society made it clear that it would not be appropriate for an Australian to be the first to stand on the top of the world and Mallory, instead, took Sandy Irvine an inexperienced climber with good connections. Very British! It's even more British if you consider that Mallory probably had homosexual feelings towards Irvine. This picture of Mallory is certainly soulful!


Finch, in the second photograph looks to be all business. He is wearing the oxygen equipment he invented and wore on a trip to Everest in 1922 when he climbed higher than Mallory.

The implication, of course, is that, if Mallory had taken Finch, the best ice-climber of his generation, as his partner, they would have most likely reached the top, and returned to tell the tale.

This fellow being interviewed today claimed there is more to the story of George Finch (who, by the way, was the father of Peter Finch, the Australian actor). Apparently, he wanted to divorce his wife, Gladys. The only way this could be done was if he or his wife was found to be involved in public adultery. On the day that Finch was to have his medical test for the Everest expedition, he was also to meet the prostitute who was to provide the evidence needed to secure his divorce. The medical report stated that he looked tired, sallow and unwell. Is it any wonder?

The other element to this story is that Jeffrey Archer‘s new book, Paths of Glory (already remaindered) is about George Mallory and, in Archer’s research for the book, he came across this extraordinary story about George Finch. I haven’t seen the book yet but will look out for it.