Mallory & Irvine centenary, in pictures

Last month marked the centenary of a historic expedition linking Birkenhead to the summit of Mt Everest.

George Mallory & Andrew ‘Sandy’ Irvine, who both spent time in Wirral in their childhoods, were part of a now infamous attempt to reach the peak of the world’s tallest mountain in 1924.

Sandy Irvine grew up in one of the original villas surrounding Birkenhead Park, while George Mallory spent time in his childhood in Birkenhead, where his parents lived at St Johns' Vicarage, on Slatey Road.

100 years on both homes have had plaques unveiled outside of them, memorialising the men’s terrific efforts as they were ‘last seen going strong for the top’. Much mystery surrounds the expedition and to this day it is known as one of mountaineering’s biggest mysteries.

In a recent interview on BBC Merseyside, Julie Summers (pictured in pink top), a historian and great niece of Sandy Irvine discussed her thoughts on whether the two men made it to the top before they sadly lost their lives.

She said a photograph of George Mallory’s wife, missing from his breast pocket, fuels speculation that the two did in fact reach the summit – as Mallory had told people that he would place the photograph and a union flag at the top. Neither of the items were found on his person when he was subsequently found years later.

George Mallory was 37 when he died, and one of the most famous mountaineers of his day. Comparatively, Sandy wasn’t as experienced, but a keen rower and man of great strength. He was just 22 when he died.

You can find the blue plaques outside Irvine’s home at Park Road South and Mallory’s on Slatey Road.

If you’d like to learn more about these two local legends, a photo exhibition about the expedition is running at Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre. It is free and open to all until 18 August.