Joe Brown 1930-2020

It is with profound sadness that we have to share with you the passing of Joe Brown. He left us peacefully at 10pm last night.

He was at home with his family. we have been in contact with his wife Val this morning to pass on our love and condolences and will share more information in line with his families wishes.

In the fifteen years we have owned the Joe Brown shops the stream of customers asking after him has never ceased with hundreds sending best wishes, memories and photos on his birthday every year. In the past few days we have been overwhelmed with the response from customers at the news of his death and in the absence of being able to have Books of Condolence available for customers to sign at each of our shops we will shortly be announcing how we can create a meaningful memorial from our customers for Joe's wife, daughters and grand children.

Joe may only have been 5' 4" but there is no question he was a giant in the climbing world, loved, respected and revered by those who followed in the wake of his climbing boots, nailed or rubber. We are honoured to have known him as a friend and extremely proud to continue to serve climbers, walkers and mountaineers in his name.

With the kind permission of Ed Douglas you can read an interview originally published in Climb Magazine in 2010 here

With the kind permission of ex staff member Ed Wright you can listen to Tom Patey singing The Legend of Joe Brown here

For anyone wishing to read more about how Joe and Val started the shops you can read our big history here

There are some fantastic old films showing Joe available free to view online:

(Incidentally, if you watch The Mission you can see Joe standing in for Robert De Niro in the waterfall scene!)

Kanchenjunga Expedition: Here

Roraima Expedition: Here

Climbing the Old Man of Hoy (First BBC Outside Live Broadcast): Here

Don Whillans, The Last Climb: Here