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Climber Joe scales height of fame - VIDEO
WORLD famous mountaineer and award-winning author Joe Simpson scaled the dizzy heights of Sheffield stardom when he became the latest celeb to be inducted into the city's 'Walk of Fame'.
The Sheffield climber found fame with his book Touching the Void, which chronicled his heroic fight for life following a mountaineering accident in the Peruvian Andes in 1985.
His book was later turned into a multi-award-winning film which was a box office hit worldwide and earned him a Bafta and an Oscar nomination.
Now Joe has unveiled his latest accolade - a Sheffield Legends plaque outside the Town Hall.
And, following a low key ceremony after which Joe met fans and signed copies of his books, he told The Star he sometimes struggled with fame.
"On one level I am very uncomfortable with it and find it very embarrassing but on another level it is a huge honour to be nominated by the people of S heffield," he said.
"My friends have taken the mick out of me mercilessly and the idea of having a plaque on the ground outside the Town Hall is a bit embarrassing really.
"The climbing world is not a world that is particularly egotistical - if you try to be egotistical on a big mountain you tend to die quite quickly.
"Climbers don't do things for fame or recognition and they don't particularly like self-promotion."
Joe said he was honoured to be included in the Walk of Fame next to other Sheffield sons and daughters including Michael Palin and Sebastian Coe.
But the climber, whose hatred of politicians is well documented, joked: "If I was beside David Blunkett I think I would have to come up here with a hammer and chisel!"
Sheffield Council leader Jan Wilson said: "Joe is regarded as one of the best climbers in the world and it is appropriate that he is acknowledged by the city, which has become an important centre for climbers using the Peak District."
Joe, who has now given up climbing but has made a successful career from his writing and motivational speaking, said he was currently working on a novel.
"It's not about climbing, it's fiction, but I'm not telling you what it is about!" he said.
n Popular boxing trainer-cum-social worker Brendan Ingle swapped his comfy tracky-bottoms for a smart new suit when he too was inducted into Sheffield's Hall of Fame outside the Town Hall.
The Irish trainer who has been coaching boxers at St Thomas Gym in Wincobank since the 1960s and keeping youngsters out of trouble, was flanked by council leader Jan Wilson and the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Arthur Dunworth as he unveiled his plaque.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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