Colin Fletcher Kirkus (18 September 1910 – 14 September 1942[1] was a British rock climber. He climbed extensively in Wales and elsewhere, such as the Alps and the Himalaya.[citation needed] He wrote the instruction book Let's Go Climbing! which inspired Joe Brown to take up the sport.
Kirkus was born in Liverpool, England on 18 September 1910.
Kirkus made pioneering climbs in Wales and elsewhere and wrote the instruction book Let's Go Climbing!.[2]
Jack Longland described the greatest rock face in Wales, Clogwyn Du'r Arddu, as "Colin’s Cliff".[citation needed]
Kirkus' series of new routes on "Cloggy" was unparalleled until the emergence of Joe Brown, 20 years later.[citation needed]
Kirkus made a pioneering Alpine-style ascent in the Himalaya, in 1933.[citation needed] He climbed Satopant'h while a member of Marco Pallis's expedition; his account of the climb is included in Pallis's book Peaks and Lamas.[3]
Kirkus was killed in the Second World War, on a sortie to Bremen on the night of 13/14 September 1942. He was a navigator on Vickers Wellington BJ879 of 156 Squadron an RAF Pathfinder squadron. He was one of four brothers, all of whom saw flying service in the RAF, and three of whom were killed in action in the Second World War.[4]
His name is listed on the Runnymede Memorial for airmen with no known grave.[1]