CHURCH bells in Mobberley rang out in tribute to a proud village son and pioneering mountaineer. 

George Mallory, whose father and grandfather were both rectors of St Wilfred’s Church in the village, made three attempts to summit the world's highest peak in the early 1920s.

On his last attempt in 1924, the intrepid explorer went missing, presumed dead, along with climbing partner, Andrew Irvine, having last been spotted some 800 feet from the summit on the peak’s infamous north-east ridge.

The friends' bodies remained on the mountain until 1999 when they were recovered during a special expedition, and Saturday, June 8, is 100 years to the day since Mallory was last seen alive. 

By way of commemoration, a dedicated band of mountaineering bellringers from all over the UK travelled to St Wilfred’s on Wednesday, June 5, to ring a special peal in their hero's honour. 

Pete Ellis, an distinguished mountaineer, led the bad, who successfully rang a peal of bells called 5040 Surprise Minor, which one villager, Margaret Graham, described as 'joyous'. 

The Mallory bellringing band (L to R): Amanda Richmond; Peter Hughes; Richard Tibbetts; Peter Williamson; Robert Crocker; Peter EllisThe Mallory bellringing band (L to R): Amanda Richmond; Peter Hughes; Richard Tibbetts; Peter Williamson; Robert Crocker; Peter Ellis (Image: Peter Ellis)

Peter, along with fellow band member, Amanda Richmond, have both summitted Everest themselves, which made the event ‘something of a one-off’, he said. 

He added: “George Mallory was born in Mobberley, and his father and grandfather were rectors of the parish. Andrew Irvine was also a Cheshire lad.

The Mallory memorial at Everest base camp, taken by Peter Ellis on his 2012 expeditionThe Mallory memorial at Everest base camp, taken by Peter Ellis on his 2012 expedition (Image: Peter Ellis)

“The ringers all represented the hillwalking and mountaineering community, travelling from as far apart as St Andrews and Ipswich.

“Among their achievement, they can include two Everest summits, a completion of the seven continental summits, dozens of Alpine 4000m peaks, and several completions of numerous British hill lists including the Munros, Corbetts, Grahams and Marilyns.

“The peal was rung in three hours and four minutes, and was enjoyed by many of the local residents.”