Heathrow

The third of July, 1953, Heathrow Airport. It’s summer in London. Photographers immortalise the arrival of the Himalayan heroes. The New Zealander Hillary wears a tie and a light, fashionable, fitted suit with three buttons, but only one is done up. The Sherpa Norgay, a shirt with the sleeves rolled up, the collar open, carrying a British flag in his right hand. He raises it and smiles. It is hard to find a photo of Norgay in which he isn’t smiling. Always willing, always loyal. In the last stage of the ascent, he saved Hillary’s life. And now the two of them are moving down the runway at the London airport. Dignitaries and personalities greet them, congratulate them. Right then the New Zealander is named Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, the first of the seven distinctions that the United Kingdom will grant him in the coming years. Norgay is given a medal with the likeness of King George VI, the stutterer.