Scunthorpe duo who twice reached Everest Base camp in town to talk about their adventures

Two Scunthorpe men who scaled Everest's base camp twice are to give a talk on their adventures.

Former Scunthorpe Grammar School pupils John Driskell, 69, and Les Simms, 69, conquered the 300-mile hike up Mount Everest and back on two occasions.

The first feat dates back to 1968, when the young North Lincolnshire men set off with three college friends – Pam Archer, David Peckett and Johnny Rudd – for Everest base camp.

In 2010, they went back and retraced their steps.

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Driving across Europe and the Middle East, then Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, they finally arrived in Kathmandu for the trek up to Everest base camp.

They returned to some of the villages they passed through and tried to recapture on film some of the views they had photographed before.

Along with an account of their adventure, these have now been published in a book, A Bright Remembering: Everest, the Old Way.

John Driskell said: "We have digitalised all the photographs taken from 1968 and we're going to share these and also talk about what led to the expedition in the first place, our revisit and the diaries that led to our book."

Mr Driskell said as a child he wanted to be a professional footballer but it was a combination of a fascination with explorer Captain Scott and the national service ending that led to his hunger for adventure.

He said: "My father was interested in Captain Scott and I decided I wanted to do something like him.

"When they stopped the national service the opportunity for people to get an adventure in places like Egypt where there were British bases has gone so the Everest expedition was like the equivalent of a gap year. I just wanted to do something before I settled down with my career.

"We will be talking about the journey itself and our reflections during the revisit. We put our diaries together and the book developed from there."

Both men are speaking about their experiences at North Lincolnshire Central Library in Scunthorpe at 7.30pm on September 14.

Mr Driskell said the most challenging part was reaching the foot of Mount Everest, where he started to suffer the effects of altitude sickness.

And he said the most rewarding aspect was getting to base camp and being the only ones there.

At the library, they will be joined by college friend David Peckett from Barnsley, who joined them on their memorable journeys.

Tickets are available from Central Library and libraries in Brigg, Ashby, Barton and Epworth, or by phone on 01724 860161.

You can also buy them atwww.northlincs.gov.uk

The text is available at all good book stores.