John Menlove Edwards
Encyclopedia
John Menlove Edwards was one of the leading British
rock climbers of the interwar period
and wrote poetry based on his experiences climbing.
He was born near Southport
and studied medicine at Liverpool University, where he became a child psychiatrist. During World War II
he was a conscientious objector
. After an unhappy personal life, which made him vulnerable to bouts of depression
, he committed suicide
with a cyanide capsule in 1958.
His first ascents include many of the now-classic rock routes on the crags of the Llanberis Pass
in Snowdonia
such as "Flying Buttress", "Spiral Stairs", "Crackstone Rib", "Nea" and "Brant".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock climbers of the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
and wrote poetry based on his experiences climbing.
He was born near Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
and studied medicine at Liverpool University, where he became a child psychiatrist. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
. After an unhappy personal life, which made him vulnerable to bouts of depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, he committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
with a cyanide capsule in 1958.
His first ascents include many of the now-classic rock routes on the crags of the Llanberis Pass
Llanberis Pass
The Llanberis Pass in Snowdonia carries the main road from the SE to Llanberis, over Pen-y-Pass, between the mountain ranges of the Glyderau and the Snowdon massif. At the bottom of the pass is the small village of Nant Peris, clustered round the ancient church of Saint Peris...
in Snowdonia
Snowdonia
Snowdonia is a region in north Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three National Parks in Wales, in 1951.-Name and extent:...
such as "Flying Buttress", "Spiral Stairs", "Crackstone Rib", "Nea" and "Brant".
Quotes
- I grew up exuberant in body but with a nervy, craving mind. It was wanting something more, something tangible. It sought for reality intensely, always as if it were not there... But you see at once what I do. I climb.