A MASTERCLASS on organisation has been delivered to a packed audience of Cumbrian and Lancashire business leaders by mountaineering legend Sir Chris Bonington.

The lecture, at the Lancaster University management school, drew parallels between qualities needed to lead a successful Everest expedition and the business world.

Sir Chris, who is in his final year as Chancellor of the university, was in the record-breaking 1985 Norwegian Everest Expedition which managed to place 18 climbers and sherpas on the summit.

Then aged 50, he became the oldest person to have reached the top of Everest at that time.

He acted as the expedition’s chief of staff, looking after the logistics and advising on strategy.

Sir Chris told his audience: “Nothing beats the achievement of a group of people working with a common goal. The organisations that have been successful over time are those that have a high level of integrity.”