The Alpine Club was established in 1857, and its members have often been in the vanguard of climbing achievements worldwide. Its joint membership with the RGS of the Mount Everest Foundation formed the basis for exploration and climbing in the Himalaya. This history of the Club was written by George Band, its president from 1987-1990, and a member of the successful 1953 Everest and 1955 Kangchenjunga expeditions