Cherries were first cultivated in the region by Richard Harrys, one of the Tudor era′s most green-fingered and forward-looking experts.

the most courageous person I have ever met

The war torn country was practically back to the stone age for infrastructure.

For the record, Sir Edmund asked the Chinese for permission to climb “Mt. Everest.” But Peking does not officially recognize Everest; Sir Edmund was refused permission to climb “Chumulangma” — presumably the way the Panchen Lama spells it.