Alfred Gregory Collection

Colour images of mountains in the Himalaya, taken whilst on expedition

Arranged in assigned reference number sequence. Both the reference number and title on each slide was penned by Alfred Gregory. Writing on the outside of the slide box is by Leo Conway and Kathleen Pope, Leo's daughter, on the right hand side

<p>Images, artefacts and printed materials held at the Royal Geographical Society</p>

This collection is open for consultation. Readers are advised to contact the Mountain Heritage Trust in advance of their visit in order to make an appointment

Donated by the Conway family, August 2005

The slides were given to Leo Conway by Alfred Gregory, following a lecture. Communication with Alfred Gregory has stated that the slides are considered by him to be 'seconds' and as such were never used in the actual presentation.

Alfred Gregory, "Greg", was born in Blackburn in 1913. He was educated at Blackpool Grammar School and was a member of the Blackpool Mountaineering Club, climbing in the English Lake District, Scotland and the Alps. He was an officer with Black Watch regiment during WWII, serving in North Africa and Italy.

In 1952 Gregory was on the Shipton led expedition to Cho Oyu, this was a training exercise in anticipation of the forthcoming summit on Mount Everest. In 1953 Gregory was appointed the official stills photographer on the expedition to Mount Everest. He climbed to 27,900 feet (8,500m) in support of Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing. The Picture Book of Everest was published in 1953.

During the 1950's Gregory led several expeditions, notably, climbing nineteen peaks in the Rowaling range (1955), west of Solu Khumbu and making a plane-table survey; to Ama Dablam, to Disteghil Sar (Karakorum)(1957) and to the Cordillera Blanca (Peru) (1962).

Gregory has worked as a professional photographer across the globe and now lives near Melbourne, Australia.

Leo Conway (Dec 1901-April 1995) was a member of Blackburn Mountaineering Club, which subsequently merged with Blackpool Mountaineering Club to form the Preston Mountaineering Club.