Sandy Irvine Exhibition Booklet

Andrew ‘Sandy’ Irvine
and the Everest
Enigma
An Exhibition organised by Lower Sixth Pupil Archie Price Siddiqui
marking the Centenary of the death of Irvine and Mallory
on Mount Everest, 8th June 1924

‘The greatest mystery
in the History of
Mountaineering’
Andrew Irvine and George Mallory were last seen near
the summit of Mount Everest on 8th June 1924. They
were not seen again until Mallory’s body was found on
1st May 1999. Irvine’s body has never been found.
The enigma is, did they reach the summit
and perish on the descent, or fail to make
it? The camera carried by Irvine could hold
the answer if it is ever recovered. Their
disappearance has haunted the nation and
the mountaineering world ever since.
George Mallory was 37 and Britain’s
foremost mountaineer. ‘Sandy’ Irvine
by contrast was a young student of 22
from Shrewsbury School and Merton
College, Oxford with precious little
mountaineering experience.

The Centenary
Exhibition
The Centenary Exhibition marks the
occasion with a display of items relating
to the 1924 expedition and the life of
Andrew Irvine (Old Salopian).
This exhibition is part of a wider
celebration of Andrew ‘Sandy’ Irvine
organised by Lower Sixth pupil Archie
Price Siddiqui, who has decided to
look into the 100th anniversary of the
climbers’ disappearance as part of his
Extended Project Qualification. Archie
contacted several institutions to request
the loaning of artefacts to allow the
exhibition to explore Irvine’s life from
childhood to his Everest ascent.
A number of poignant artefacts and
papers have been kindly loaned by the
Alpine Club, Merton College Oxford,
Magdalene College Cambridge, the
Mountain Heritage Trust, and the Royal
Geographical Society, including papers,
books, items of clothing, equipment,
photos, and other memorabilia. Other
items have come from the Shrewsbury
School Irvine Archive. The exhibition
also includes a display illustrating
the History of Mountaineering and
Hillwalking at Shrewsbury School from
1934 to the present.
The exhibition takes you into the life of
Andrew (Sandy) Irvine from childhood
and family, school at Shrewsbury, sporting
prowess as an oarsman at Shrewsbury
and Oxford. The centrepiece is a focus
on the 1924 Mount Everest Expedition,
which followed two previous attempts to
reach the summit in 1921 and 1922. The
exhibits give a picture of the rigours of
life on the mountain, the climbers, the
equipment, clothing, letters home, food
and cooking, as well and the magnificent
grandeur and scale of the place.
Exhibition Display Items
Some Items included in the Exhibition:
Merton College Oxford - Irvine’s rucksack patch and three letters related to the
expedition.
Magdalene College Cambridge - Letter from Odell regarding oxygen tanks used on
the mountain.
Mountain Heritage Trust - Replica mountain kit worn by Irvine and Mallory.
Royal Geographic Society - Assorted papers relating to the expedition
Shrewsbury School Archives - Mountaineering Club (the Rovers) minute books,
letters, photos and photo albums, expedition reports, and other papers.
Full list of Items on Display:
Alpine Club
Irvine’s Ice Axe found on Everest.
E.O. Shebbeare: Original Diary: Account
of the 1924 Everest expedition from 27th
March - 3 August, copiously illustrated with
photographs, maps etc., and with pencil
corrections/comments by the author. Includes
a translated typed extract from the diary of the
Chief Lama who blessed the expedition.
A typed note by Shebbeare, detailing the
adventures of this volume is pasted inside
the front cover. Comprises one red notebook
and one canvas bag. The bag is damaged and
stained with paint.
Two letters from Bentley Beetham en route to Everest 1924. Letter one - a sheet on
Anchor Line headed paper and one envelope. Letter two - Five sheets of lined paper.
Both letters were written by Bentley Beetham from the 1924 Everest Expedition to Mr
Stockdale at Barnard Castle School.

Noel Postcard: Two postcards
promoting the 1924 Everest
Expedition film.
Wayfarers Club Dinner: Letter of
provenance and one photocopy of
the Wayfarers Dinner Menu. Actual
Wayfarers Dinner Menu signed by
Mallory, Irvine, Beetham and Hazard.
Photocopy and menu are different.
Climbing Diary Vol.I: 1925-1932
HEL Porter Enclosure Postcard
promoting the 1924 Everest
Expedition film addressed to Porter.
In better condition than the other
postcards with a clear Base Camp
stamp on the reverse.
8 items relating to Everest 1924:
1. Advert for a lecture on the Mount
Everest Expedition 25th April 1925.
2. Advert for a lecture on the Mount
Everest Expedition 29th October
1924.
3. Passenger List for the Naldera.
4. Flyer for a lecture on the Mount
Everest Expedition 14th November
1924.
5. Agenda Everest Selection Sub-
Committee 16th October 1923.
One page with pencil notes.
6. Agenda Everest Selection Sub-
Committee 20th April 1923. One
page with pencil notes.
7. AC Notice of joint meeting to
receive the report of the Mount
Everest Expedition 1924.
8. AC Meeting Note 20th April 1923
- includes mention of the Mount
Everest Selection Sub-Comittee.
Programme for the Joint meeting of
the AC and RGS to receive the report
of the Mount Everest Expedition 1924.
Odell Sandstone rock sample: Altered
Calcareous sandstone retrieved by
Odell from near Camp VI Everest
1924. In glass case and mounted on
a wooden base. Note of provenance
included. 5.5” by 5.5” (base).
Hazard letter photocopies: Two A3
photocopies of letters between Hazard
and Shipton regarding porters at
Camp VI and a copy of the Times
report which prompted the letters.
Also includes a letter from Audrey Salkeld
covering the provenance of the copies.
Odell Diary copy: 8 pages copied from Noel
Odell’s diary covering 25th May 1924 - 21st
June 1924. Copy comprises photographic prints
of each page.
Merton College, Oxford
The leather patch from Sandy’s expedition
rucksack. The rucksack itself was burned by
Odell at Everest Base Camp on 13th June
1924, and he saved the patch to return to
Sandy’s family (the patch is about 4.5 inches
square).
Digital images of three of Sandy’s letters,
plus an image of one of the envelopes.
Irvine’s swagger stick found on Everest.
Magdalene College, Cambridge
One original letter and one print.
Mountain Heritage Trust
Irvine and Mallory replica mountain
clothing kit.
Royal Geographic Society
Letter from George Mallory to Arthur Hinks
(EE/29/01/05) ‘Just a line to let you know that I’m now
quite determined to go out again’.
Letter from Andrew Irvine to Sydney Spencer (EE/28/01)
‘I enclose herewith the list of tools...’
Medical report on George Mallory (EE/29/5); Medical
report on Andre Irvine (EE/29/5).

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2022 and 2023
The Schools, Shrewsbury SY3 7BA
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