TIMOTHY IFOR MORGAN LEWIS

1944-1984

Tim Lewis, editor of Mountain from 1978 to 1984, died of cancer on August 23. He changed the magazine’s international scope and style to match a rapidly evolving climbing world and changing tastes.

He was bom in Aberystwyth, Wales in 1944, son of two teachers. The family subsequently moved from Wales to London. Educated at Dulwich College and Jesus College, Oxford, he took an Honours Degree in Modem History in 1967. After post-graduate work at University College, Bangor, between 1972 and 1977 he lectured in General Studies at Derby College of Further Education.

Lewis’ interest in climbing began at school, developed at the University and continued throughout the late sixties when he was based in North Wales. In 1970 he edited the Climbers’ Club Journal and in 1972 revived the moribund Rock-sport. In 1977, in partnership with Geoff Birtles, he purchased Mountain, moving its base from London to Sheffield. After a year Birtles left, while Lewis teamed with me to continue publishing Mountain.

Although sometimes acerbic, Tim had many friends and associates who valued his inner warmth, loyalty and wit. As editor, he traveled much and developed links with foreign climbers, notably with the French, the Americans and the Czechoslovaks. In Czechoslovakia, climbers have provisionally named an unclimbed sandstone tower in his memory.

Paul Nunn, Mountain