Rhubarb 2020

ST EDWARD’S r h u b a r b

MOROCCO EXPEDITION 1969 AND REUNION IML I L , HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS 2019

F E AT U R E

M ichael hodson (E, 1959-1963) writes: At 13.30 on the 10th of July 1969, 12 senior boys from Teddies set out on an expedition to Morocco which influenced the rest of their lives. Nearly every boy climbed Toubkal (13,671ft), some spending a night there to see sunset and dawn. Of the geographical projects in the south, the coleoptera and flora collections can be seen in the Natural History Museum archive. The recordings of the Arabic, Berber and French names of plants made “a really useful contribution to both linguistics and botany,” said Dr James Bynon, of the Africa Dept of SOAS. Just as importantly for the local community, a Transit van full of medical supplies donated by major pharmaceutical firms was

delivered to a British midwife working alone in the far south. Most of the food for the trip was also donated. Geoff Hand and Michael Hodson dreamt up the idea. The late Noel Cash TA, was the expedition’s doctor and the late Peter Mallalieu, then Physics teacher, led the climbing team. The expedition was supported by the Royal Geographical Society and its Patrons were nationally distinguished OSE. The expedition left Oxford in two Transits for the High Atlas Mountains Morocco, then set off on foot from the (then) tiny village of Imlil with pack mules to establish base camp in the Neltner Valley. Toubkal was climbed by two parties. Rock climbers led by Mallalieu put up five routes.

Goodall and Howell sorting stores

Arrival at base camp

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