Alfred Gregory

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Alfred Gregory (b.1913), FBIPP, Hon FRPS, is a mountain climber, explorer and professional photographer. A member of the successful British team which made the first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, he was in charge of stills photography and, as a climbing member of the team, reached 28,000 feet (8,500 metres) in support of the successful Hillary-Tenzing assault on the Summit.^[1]

[edit] Early life

Gregory was educated at Blackpool Grammar School in the UK. Before the war he was a Rover Scout in the Blackpool Woodcraft Troop the foremost scout group in Blackpool alongside other members such as Eric Currie. During World War II he was an officer in the Black Watch, serving in North Africa and Italy. Before the war he climbed extensively in the Lake District, Scotland and the Alps and during the 1940s he led several new routes in Britain. In 1952 he was with Eric Shipton’s Cho Oyu expedition and throughout the 1950s he led several expeditions - to Rolwaling and the Gauri Shankar massif where 19 peaks were climbed and a plane table survey was made; and to Ama Dablam, Distigil Sar, Karakoram and Cordillera Blanca in Peru. He also founded, with his first wife Nanette,a travel agency in Blackpool, English-Continental Travel.

[edit] Photography

For 20 years he worked freelance for Kodak UK, lecturing on photography and presenting his pictures to large audiences throughout Britain and Europe.

He has spent a lifetime travelling on photographic assignments around the world and his pictures are still regularly syndicated to 35 countries. Along with his wife Sue he has produced many photojournalistic picture stories through the famous Tom Blau Camera Press News Agency in London. His work has been exhibited throughout Britain, France, Belgium, America, Africa, Poland and Australia.

Gregory has published three books: The Picture of Everest in 1953; Alfred Gregory’s Everest published for the 40th anniversary of the first ascent, and Blackpool: a Celebration of the 60s.

He and his wife now live outside Melbourne, Australia.