John Temple, May 2015, by Arshad Khan

Former MCK member John Temple passed away in the UK on New Years Eve, after a battle with cancer. John was in his 80s. Iain Allen writes: “John was a major MCK contributor during the 70s, 80s and 90s, and spent a great deal of time on Mount Kenya, making the first ascents (with Ian Howell) of the Diamond Buttress Original Route, and the Northern Slabs Route, both on Batian. John also did many first ascents of bush climbs in Kenya’s remote regions. On Kilimanjaro, John made the first ascents of the Breach Wall East End (with Tony Charlton) and the Breach Wall Balletto Icefield (with Dave Cheesmond).” In addition to his many climbing accomplishments, John is also remembered for his heroic rescue of an injured climber from Shipton’s Notch on Mt. Kenya.

MCK is indebted to John for his contributions to climbing in Kenya and we are deeply saddened by the loss. Our condolences to all of John’s family and friends. If you would like to leave a tribute or remembrance for John, please do so here:

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Derek Buckle from Redhill, UK wrote on January 25, 2019:
I have known and climbed with John for well over 25 years since his return to the UK from Africa and he was a constant source of inspiration to me and many others. Being 10 years older, he was my role model during all of this time. John was an adventurous individual, always seeking out new routes, new climbing opportunities and new places to visit. When I retired some 22 years ago John whisked me off to climb on Mount Kenya within one month of my leaving work. We never really looked back and it was a wonderful opportunity. Subsequently we went to the European Alps, to Nepal and then to the Georgian Caucasus, where John eventually realised that his days of high altitude mountaineering were nearing an end. It did not stop him climbing, however, or of going to the lower mountains of the Alps and Kazakhstan. Fortunately I managed to visit John in hospital two weeks prior to his death. He was in remarkably good spirits, despite clearly being ill. He knew that he would not be returning home, but I like to think that our reminiscences helped to sustain him during his final days. He will be sadly missed by me and many others. Derek Buckle