Speaker Biographies - Nepal Himalayan Festival in Manchester, 5th & 6th June 2004

Doug Scott CBE
Has made 45 expeditions to mountains of Asia. Awarded CBE in 1994 and Royal Geographical Society Patrons Gold Medal in 1999. Together, with Doug Haston, was one of the first two Britons to summit Everest in 1975.
Publications: Big Wall Climbing (with Alex Macintyre) 1974; Shishapangma, Tibet 1984; Himalayan Climber - A Photographic Autobiography (1992). Contributor to Alpine Journal, American Alpine Journal and Mountain Magazine, Himal Magazine
Yarjung Gurung is a shaman (poju) who will see and interpret paranormal phenomena for the benefit of human well-being. He has lived in the UK for several years and collaborated with anthropologists in broadening the appreciation of the tremendous historical depth of oral knowledge transmitted by shamans of the Tamu people.

Charles Ramble is the leading British expert in the cultural and social life of the Himalayas and Tibet. Now based at Oxford University, he has written extensively for specialist and popular audiences on people, places, history and wildlife, from the jungles of Chitwan to the deserts of Mustang.

Ken Cox is Director of Glendoick Gardens in Perthshire, and has led several trips in the footsteps of Himalayan plant pioneers bringing the beautiful blooms of the mountains to find new homes in British gardens. He has added to the Tsangpo Gorges expeditions by new discoveries in Arunachal Pradesh.

Dr Bob Jordan PhD
Retired from M/C Uni where he taught English to overseas postgraduate students.
Bob joined the British Council in 1964, and served with them in Kathmandu from 1965-1969, training teachers. He met Sir Edmund Hillary at a social function, in Kathmandu, and Hillary asked if he would become the first inspector, of the new primary schools in the Solu Khumbu.

Richard Bull
Though not a professional climber, Richard has climbed in numerous different places, in Europe, Asia and North America, since the age of 17. In November 2003 he climbed the summit of Ama Dablam in Nepal. He now lives and works in Amsterdam.

Neil Cooper
Enthusiastic dentist, experienced rock climber, and have-a-go-mountaineer. Lives in Kendal where he runs a dental practice to finance his climbing.

Hazel Roy
Lecturer, writer & drama practitioner, Hazel went to Nepal in 2002 on a YHA challenge trek to Helambu, stayed on to teach English and worked for the International Labour Organisation on a pilot project, the first of its kind in Nepal, bringing street children and school children together to create a piece of bi-lingual theatre about child labour. She wrote a book Three Months in Nepal about her experiences, Since her return she has set up a rgistered UK charity with fellow trekkers, The Disabled Welfare Association (UK) which assists disabled and orphaned children from poor hill communities, look out for their stall at the festival.

Whats On

Nepal Festival Index