From Himalayas to high tea
Published on Tuesday 06 July 2010
Not only does Alan Hinkes OBE share a home town with Lewis & Cooper, he's an enthusiastic fan of our flagship Northallerton store.
Alan became the first Briton to climb the world's highest peaks in 2005.
All in all it took 17 years and 28 attempts for the plucky Yorkshireman to conquer all 14 of the 8,000m-plus peaks.
His achievement put him in an exclusive club of just a dozen surviving souls who have matched this feat - the same number of people who have stood on the moon.
Many, many more have died trying to equal it.
Romanby-born Alan began his mountaineering career while at Northallerton Grammar School, getting a taste for adventure and gaining a head for heights as a teenager in the nearby North York Moors.
He progressed to the Lake District, the Alps and eventually the Himalaya - never forgetting the home pleasures of his local fish and chip shop and - of course - Lewis & Cooper.
In fact, he was once kind enough to cite us as "the best food shop in Britain" in a Sunday Times article.
Alan, who still lives in North Yorkshire, dropped in recently to thrill Lunch Club members at our Northallerton tearoom with an entertaining and thought-provoking account of his time spent on top of the world.
He was awarded the OBE in 2006 and is also clearly proud at having been made an Honorary Citizen of Northallerton and Yorkshireman of the Year 2005.
We sent him on his way with an L&C hamper and a promise to return to give another instalment of his adventures: watch this space.
Great gifts that come in a tin
