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UK tributes to Everest conqueror UK tributes to Everest conqueror
(about 2 hours later)
Gordon Brown has hailed the first man to climb Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary, as a "truly great hero".Gordon Brown has hailed the first man to climb Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary, as a "truly great hero".
His feat was revealed on the eve of the Queen's 1953 coronation and Buckingham Palace said she was "very saddened" to hear of the 88-year-old's death.His feat was revealed on the eve of the Queen's 1953 coronation and Buckingham Palace said she was "very saddened" to hear of the 88-year-old's death.
British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes said he had inspired "generations".British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes said he had inspired "generations".
Sir Edmund, who made the first ascent of the world's highest mountain with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, on 29 May 1953, died in Auckland, New Zealand.Sir Edmund, who made the first ascent of the world's highest mountain with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, on 29 May 1953, died in Auckland, New Zealand.
The prime minister said in a statement: "He was a truly great hero who captured the imagination of the world, a towering figure who will always be remembered as a pioneer explorer and leader."The prime minister said in a statement: "He was a truly great hero who captured the imagination of the world, a towering figure who will always be remembered as a pioneer explorer and leader."
'Motivational''Motivational'
The Queen was "very saddened" to learn of New Zealander Sir Edmund's death and was sending a personal message of sympathy to his widow and family, Buckingham Palace said.The Queen was "very saddened" to learn of New Zealander Sir Edmund's death and was sending a personal message of sympathy to his widow and family, Buckingham Palace said.
Sir Edmund was knighted for his achievement in 1953, and 42 years later was awarded her highest award for chivalry - the Order of the Garter.Sir Edmund was knighted for his achievement in 1953, and 42 years later was awarded her highest award for chivalry - the Order of the Garter.
The Queen met him most recently at the Garter Ceremony in Windsor in 2004.The Queen met him most recently at the Garter Ceremony in Windsor in 2004.
Sir Ranulph told BBC News 24: "He's just a great, great guy. Lots of people from my generation remember him as highly motivational, not just as a mountaineer but also in the polar field and going down great rivers.Sir Ranulph told BBC News 24: "He's just a great, great guy. Lots of people from my generation remember him as highly motivational, not just as a mountaineer but also in the polar field and going down great rivers.
It was quite an amazing event, that on this very same day of the coronation, this great event, that this other great event was happening Michael Buckley
"Every field of exploration Ed Hillary was into and, as far as I was concerned, was the top explorer generally - not just mountaineer - over a great period of time, and highly motivational to other generations after him.""Every field of exploration Ed Hillary was into and, as far as I was concerned, was the top explorer generally - not just mountaineer - over a great period of time, and highly motivational to other generations after him."
When the news broke that Sir Edmund and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay had conquered the summit, thousands of people were already lining the route of the Queen's procession to her coronation.
Michael Buckley was a 14-year-old boy when he was chosen as one of the children from his school in Ilford, north London, to go and watch the Queen's golden coach pass by.
He vividly remembers the excitement as he waited with his back to the River Thames, and jostled with the other children in school uniform as they waited for the coach.
Conquering the impossible
Then when he saw the newspaper placards with news of the Everest conquest, he was astonished.
Now 69, Mr Buckley told the BBC: "It was quite an amazing event, that on this very same day of the coronation, this great event, that this other great event was happening.
"I just had a feeling it was a significant major achievement, something that I always thought of hitherto as insurmountable, because I knew that people had tried and failed.
"Getting there to the Embankment and then seeing those placards saying 'Everest conquered', I do remember it as quite a vivid recollection.
"Then the next one was of the Queen and Prince Philip passing by in their rather golden coach."