Levy Harry B. L.

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Biografie:
H. B. L. Levy (1897-1977)
Harry Levy was an outstanding example of the man who takes up climbing in middle age and then exhibits, more strongly than many a young 'tiger', a youthful enthusiasm for all aspects of mountaineering, continuing in his case until his last years. I t was in 1936 that he found the interest in the hills which gave him so much satisfaction, whether climbing the Northumbrian rocks near his home in Sunderland, tackling the Lake District or Scottish mountains and easier rock-climbs in summer and winter or completing some of the classic or, more frequently, the less well-known routes, in the Alps. His alpine expeditions, starting in 1950 with a guided ascent of the Portiengrat, covered a period of some 10 years but most of the later peaks he turned to such as the Mutthorn and Tschingelhorn, were ascended guideless in company with such friends as Frank Oakes Smith and Jimmy Dawson of the Gritstone Club. Those 3 climbed frequently together too in Britain and Harry, who himself was a member of the Gritstone Club, always spoke with great affection and respect of Frank and Jimmy with whom he had clearly shared so many memorable days.
Harry was in no sense a distinguished rock-climber or alpinist but he was physically strong and added to simple competence a thoroughness of preparation and an infectious enthusiasm which made him first class mountaineering company. He was perhaps most at home on his local hills and crags and he was responsible for the production of a useful guide Some Northumbrian Rock Climbs. He introduced many younger people to the hills and crags and enjoyed their pleasure at the discoveries they made.
He was very much aware of the post-war initiative by education authorities and voluntary organizations to provide opportunities for mountain experience and training for young people and he talked with knowledge and understanding of the developments which seemed to many of us to be so desirable.
It was natural that he should take up skiing at an age when most would have thought it prudent to go back to climbing or even walking boots. He looked forward to weekends ski touring in Glenshee with the Gritstone Club and preparing for winter holidays at Bivio with the same regular companions.
Like his great friend, Jimmy Dawson, Harry was a consultant surgeon, a non-specialist as he was in his climbing. He was part of the Sunderland and North East scene for a life-time, a family man known and liked by generations of Tyne and Wear folk. He asked very little from the hills but he seemed privileged to enjoy their secrets more than most. He became a member of the Alpine Club in 1957.
John Cook
Edward Pyatt writes:
I have particularly happy recollections of meeting H. B. L. Levy on his home ground in Northumberland. We had corresponded about his local outcrops and a family holiday in the county enabled him to show us, both adults and children, round some of the sites. His enthusiasm for the task was obvious and infectious and it was easy to appreciate what a source of inspiration he was in the local climbing world.
Quelle: Alpine Journal Volume 84, 1979, Seite 268-269


Geboren am:
1897
Gestorben am:
1977