I come from a line of self-motivated, determined folk - not grand, not high society, but no-nonsense, family-minded go-getters.

Above all, I feel a quiet pride that for the rest of my days I can look at myself in the mirror and know that once upon a time I was good enough. Good enough to call myself a member of the SAS. Some things don’t have a price tag.

I loved climbing because of the freedom, and having time and space. I remember coming off Everest for the last time, thinking of Dad and wishing that he could have seen what I saw. He would have loved it.

I always wanted to be Robin Hood or John the Baptist when I was growing up.

I'm terrified of walking into a room full of people. Sitting down at a dinner table with 15 strangers brings me out in a sweat.

The extremes of jungles, mountains, and deserts are inherently dangerous places.

All my life the only thing I've been good at has been climbing and throwing myself off big things.