Sir Christian Bonington, CVO CBE DL
Chancellor of Lancaster University
Sir Chris Bonington became Chancellor of Lancaster University in 2005, when he succeeded the founding Chancellor HRH Princess Alexandra. He received an honorary doctorate from the University in 1983.
He is an outstanding mountaineer with a host of innovative new routes and first ascents of peaks in the greater ranges to his credit. He led the expeditions that made the first ascents of the South Face of Annapurna and the South West Face of Everest. He realised a dream in 1985 when he reached the summit of Everest.
The author of 17 books on mountaineering, he has also worked as an adventure journalist and photographer, climbing the highest active volcano in the world in Ecuador and reporting the first ever descent of the Blue Nile. He has taken part in and presented many award winning films for television including the epic live broadcast of the Old Man of Hoy in 1967.
He has lived in the Lake District for over 40 years, where every year he invites Student Union officers to lunch. He also thoroughly enjoys climbing with students from the Lancaster University Climbing Club!
In 2011 a new climbing wall was unveiled at the university's new Sports Centre that was designed with input from Sir Chris.