[Sir John Hunt, mountaineer and soldier] Eight Typed Letters Signed and two Autograph Letters Signed to journalist, Arthur Bourne, with autograph letter from Lady Hunt, two letters from secretaries, Hunt's funeral service, copies of Bourne's replies.

The collection contains 31 items and is in good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Hunt's eight typed letters (three signed 'John Hunt' and five signed 'John') total 4pp., 4to, and 4pp, 12mo; his two autograph letters (one 'John Hunt' and one 'John') total 3pp., 12mo. Also present are: an Autograph Letter Signed (1p., 12mo) from 'Joy Hunt', thanking the Bournes for a letter of condolence on her husband's death; Typed Letter Signed (1p., landscape 12mo) from Sheila Ralph, 'Personal Secretary' to Hunt, on letterhead of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, 16 November 1962, regarding a dinner organised by Bourne; Typed Letter Signed (1p., foolscap 8vo) by Nigel Winser, on letterhead of the Royal Geographical Society, 22 August 1979, writing on Hunt's behalf 'regarding our Mulu Symposium'. With a copy of Hunt's printed funeral service (10pp., 8vo, in printed wraps), St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, 26 January 1999, and two tickets of admission. Also present are copies of 14 typed letters from Bourne to Hunt, dating from between 1963 and 1993, a copy of the typed letter of condolence from Bourne and his wife to Lady Hunt, 9 November 1998, as well as a copy of a letter from Bourne to the Chapter Clerk, Windsor Castle, 16 December 1998, regarding funeral arrangements, and containing the comment 'We are very fond of John, one of us owes a great deal to him'. The last item is a cutting of the half-page obituary of Hunt in The Independent, 10 November 1998, by Jan Morris ('the only reporter with the team that conquered Everest in 1953'). The background to the correspondence is described by Bourne, in a copy of the letter to Lady Hunt, 9 November 1998: 'It is an age since I first met you both, it was soon after Everest when I had asked the then Sir John Hunt to be the first President of the Reading Mountaineering Club, I and a few friends had recently founded, and you came to our first "social occasion". [...] When he became President of the Royal Geographical Society he asked me to join the research committee to add my voice to his in getting the Society to be more involved with environmental issues'. Hunt's first letter is addressed to 'My dear Arthur', and the correspondence remains cordial and businesslike throughout. Topics include: an planned scheme to promote nature conservation in schools, proposed meetings, social functions, plans. A couple of extracts convey the tone of the correspondence. Regarding the nature conservation scheme Hunt writes on 1 March 1963: 'Far the best way to bring this to the point is for you to discuss it with Commander Cobb and Mrs. Gordon-Spencer, the ball being with you to propose a meeting. | May I leave it to you to get in touch with Deric Evans the General Secretary, whom you already know, with a view to arranging such a meeting, as the purpose of it will be the interest of the Council for Nature.?' On 26 January 1983 Hunt writes regarding a trip to the Himalayas: 'Before you leave, I advise you to make contact with David Latter of the British Council, whose responsibility includes Nepal. | On arrival, you should make a courtesy call on the Counsellor, Peter Roberts, who will be able to brief you on development in Nepal. | On a personal note, I would much appreciate it if you convey my warm greetings to the President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association whose name is Kumar Khadgar Bikram Shah.' Bourne's side of the correspondence is fuller, and conveys much information regarding his and Hunt's common interests, activities and plans.