HENRY'S LIFE-CELEBRATION
A
wonderful gathering was held in
Over 100 people gathered from as far as Japan,
Australia + Italy, in the beautiful Peel Lecture Theatre of Bristol
University's School of Geography, panelled and furnished in glowing pitch
pine. Here Henry had taught generations
of students over 25 years, and delivered a now famous lecture demonstrating
glacier flow with a ball of potti-putti growing slowly and obscenely downwards
from a retort stand, while ignoring the embarrassed titters of the students.
There were 16 Osmastons plus distant cousins, there
were forestry friends from Uganda, and several Ugandans including Joan
Rwabyomere, the High Commissioner, there were many from The Uganda Mountain
Club, there were many expedition and academic colleagues and of course friends
from Bristol, Ladakh and the Alpine Club.
A warm welcome from Peter Haggett, Henry's professor and
a prayer from Amiel Osmaston, his daughter, introduced a series of fascinating,
funny and well illustrated talks from Andrew Stuart (British ambassador), Bob
Plumptre (Uganda forester), Stephen Venables (Alpine Club president), Peter
Smart (Bristol Geography Professor),
John Bray (International Association for Ladakh Studies) and his son Nigel
Osmaston.
Thanks to James Lang Brown, (
It was such an enjoyable and cheerful occasion for so
many diverse and interesting people to meet that after a champagne toast to
Henry and Anna tea continued till night security had to close the doors and 20
re-gathered in a nearby restaurant.
DVD
A professional DVD of the illustrated talks and old
cine film of Henry climbing Rwenzori in 1955 is available from :
J
R Lang Brown,