Please Sir, don’t look down!

AT the summit . . . triumphant Steve Hill

Teacher conquers fears to reach summit

FOR a man who doesn’t like heights, teacher Steve Hill picked a perilous feat for his latest challenge.

The deputy head at St Joseph’s Primary School, Shaw, scaled the 15,708ft Mont Blanc in the French Alps — Western Europe’s highest mountain.

He scared himself almost to death to reach the summit, battling white-outs and blizzards and listening to the rumble of distant avalanches.

He used crampons and ice axes to heave himself out of 200ft-deep crevasses, scaled sheer rock faces and tackled exposed ridges in high winds.

Thankfully, the weather was kinder for his arrival at the summit to fly the flag for St Joseph’s.

Now back at home and preparing for a return to school in September, he said: “I’m relieved to be back in one piece — now I can say I had a great time.

“I can’t deny it was dangerous, but the scenery is spectacular . . . when you can see it.”

Total cash raised currently stands at £2,800 but fund-raising will continue until December.

Donations can be made through www.justgiving.com/StephenHill7.