World famous rock climber who taught at White Hall Outdoor Pursuits Centre dies

Joe Brown, 89, died peacefully at his home on April 15 after several years of failing health.

Grandfather-of-four Joe, originally from Manchester, instructed at the centre from 1961-1964 before moving to North Wales to start an outdoor equipment shop.

Though one of his most famous achievements was his ascent of the yet unclimbed 28,169ft Kanchenjunga in 1955 he pioneered exploration of Britain’s rock outcrops prior to that.

Speaking about Joe’s Derbyshire climbs Geoff Birtles, who edited High Magazine for 30 years, described his ascents of Stanage Edge’s Right Unconquerable and The Dangler as ‘staggering’.

The former - with a maximum height of 25 metres is now hailed as a sandstone ‘classic route’ which has since been climbed by thousands.

Geoff, who climbed with Joe from his teenage years onwards in a friendship lasting 54 years, said: “The rock climbs Joe did at Stanage in the 40s and 50s were the hardest in the world as outcrops.

“He was the Pele of rock climbers - truly a one-off and a national treasure.”

Geoff, 75, who described Joe as a ‘raconteur’, added: “He was a really nice bloke and very entertaining - he was always right but he did it in such a way that he always made you laugh.

“He was really good fun and though in the last couple of years he was ill his long-term memory was staggering - he had a fantastic life.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor