Latest News | 5 November 2024
Courageous mountaineer to be honoured by university
University of Derby
An award-winning British mountaineer and author is set to be recognised by the University of Derby with an honorary degree.
Mick Fowler, who is from Matlock, has spent almost 50 years discovering and scaling spectacular unclimbed mountains and was awarded a King Albert Mountain award for his ‘outstanding contribution to mountaineering’ in 2012.
Now, he is set to become an Honorary Doctor at an awards ceremony at the university’s Buxton Campus on Friday 8 November, alongside hundreds of graduates.
In his mountaineering career, Mick has climbed all the classic north faces in Europe and has made notable first ascents in Peru, Nepal, India, Pakistan, China and Canada.
He is one of only four climbers to have been awarded the Piolet d’Or – mountaineering’s most prestigious award – three times.
In 2017, within six months of retiring, Mick was diagnosed with cancer.
Regarding this as just another challenge to overcome, he was back to climbing – with a colostomy bag – in the Himalayas in 2019.
He made the first ascent of a sea stack off the Irish coast in 2023, and the first ascent of unclimbed Yawash Sar (6,298m) in Pakistan in 2024.
He is also an award-winning author who has written three books about his exploits: Vertical Pleasure (1995), On Thin Ice (2005) and No Easy Way (2018).
Professor Kathryn Mitchell, vice-chancellor and chief executive of the University of Derby, said: “Mick’s incredible story demonstrates dedication, fearlessness and commitment, and it is an honour to recognise his achievements with an honorary degree from the University of Derby.
“Graduation is a time to celebrate, and our award ceremonies are an important opportunity to reflect upon all that our students have achieved during their time with us.
“We are consistently impressed by the commitment to make a positive impact, and we are so proud of everyone who is going to be graduating.”
Mick said: “It is a great honour to be recognised by the university in this way, and I hope that my story will help inspire and motivate future generations of students.”
