VILLAGERS are planning a lasting tribute to George Mallory, who vanished on Mount Everest in 1924.

From the Guardian Series, first published Wednesday 5th Sep 2001.

Richard Ellison, chairman of the Mobberley Village Society, said members had agreed to fund a tribute to the Mobberley-born climber who may have been the first man to conquer the 29,028ft peak.

"It is very much in its infancy, but the intent is now there," he said.

"We have agreed to fund it, but what it will be and where it will go we haven't decided."

Mallory's family, who now live all over the world, have given their blessing to the plans and the memorial is expected to commemorate the whole family.

Mallory was the son of the village rector and several generations of the family grew up in Mobberley.

"It will also be for them because they are a well respected family in the village," said Mr Ellison.

"We thought it was the place to start with the family and they were fine about it."

Peter Gillman, who has written Mallory's biography, contacted his relatives to as for their permission to erect a lasting memorial. Yesterday (Tuesday) the former journalist said Mallory was now making headlines in America thanks to his book The Wildest Dream.

It explores the theory that Mallory and his climbing partner Andrew Irvine reached the summit of Everest 29 years before Sir Edmund Hillary.

"It has been more popular there than it has here because they are more interested in Everest," he said.

An expedition returned to the world's highest mountain this summer in an attempt to find Irvine's body.

Mallory's perfectly-preserved frozen body was discovered in 1999.

The team had hoped to find the climber's camera, which could contain photographs of the triumphant two standing on the summit.

But speaking from his London home yesterday, Mr Gillman said it was unlikely that it was found.

"I don't think they found anything or we would have heard about it," he said.

amoores@guardiangrp.co.uk

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