Trivia

Along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, he was one of the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953.

Appointed a KBE in 1953 and awarded the Order of New Zealand in 1987.

Has three children: Sarah, Peter and Belinda. Belinda and her mother died in a plane crash in May 1975.

He and Tenzing made the final assault on Everest as a team, and were reluctant to disclose which man was first to actually set foot on the peak. Hillary took photographs of Tenzing standing on the summit because Tenzing did not know how to use a camera. Both men eventually revealed in their memoirs that Hillary was the first to step onto the summit.

Apiarist 1936-1943 and 1951-1970; KBE 1953; Polar Medal 1958; New Zealand High Commissioner to India, Bangladesh and Nepal 1985-1988; ONZ 1987; KG 1995.

Made a Knight of the Garter in 1995.