Hillary - Everest conqueror and untarnished hero

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary, together with Nepal's Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, on May 29, 1953 became the first to scale the 8,848 metre summit of Mount Everest.

He was New Zealand's best known son, revered in his native country, and the picture of his craggy face is on the country's five dollar note.

In an age where, increasingly, heroes' reputations are tarnished, Hillary's, if anything, grew through his life.

New Zealanders warmed to the self-effacing "ordinary bloke" who liked to be known simply as "Ed" and whose number was listed in the Auckland telephone directory.

Many Kiwis believed his earthy directness and dry humour epitomised the best in their countrymen.

"We knocked the bastard off," was the famous phrase he chose to tell his companions of the conquest of the world's highest mountain.

British expedition leader John Hunt chose the strapping six foot New Zealander, then a beekeeper from near Auckland, because of his experience in the Himalayas and reputation for immense energy and strength.

The second pairing in the 14-man party to attempt the summit, Hillary and Tenzing set off on a cloudless morning after spending a night at high altitude on the south peak of the South Col.

Encumbered by clothing and oxygen equipment that modern climbers would deem museum pieces, they inched ahead until they reached the most formidable problem on the final ridge, a 13 metre rock now known as the Hillary Step.