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A former British army officer who served with the Brigade of Gurkhas in Malaya, Singapore, Brunei, Nepal and Hong Kong is returning to Victoria College, where he studied in the 1950s, to discuss his adventures in Nepal and his Himalayan climbs.
Born in Jersey, Kelvin Kent FRGS spent 16 years as a British Army officer, half of those with the British Brigade of Gurkhas.
While he was exempt from joining the British Army as a Jersey boy, Kelvin was faced with a “big choice” whilst in the middle of a three-year corporate training program in London: come back to Jersey or remain in England and do his two-year stint. “I decided on the latter and was commissioned as a National Service officer,” Kelvin explained.
Pictured: Kelvin as a Ghurka officer 57 years ago.
At the end of his two years, Kelvin decided to convert to a regular commission instead of taking on a corporate job. After a couple of postings in England and some courses came the opportunity to volunteer for service with the British Brigade of Gurkhas.
“Fortunately, I was selected and went to Malaya and Singapore with 99 Gurkha Brigade,” Kelvin recalls. “My first actual active service - combat service - assignment was when the Brunei rebellion broke out in December 1962."
After this, Kelvin became Communications and Transport Officer at the Gurkha HQ in Nepal. “This was undoubtedly the best lieutenant’s posing in the British Army,” he said. “During that time, I trekked extensively, mastered the language, learned the culture and got to see the Himalayas – up close.”
Pictured: Kelvin first trekked to Everest Base Camp in 1964.
Kelvin’s other roles in the army included a year as an aide-de-camp (ADC) to a British General, two stints in Germany with Armoured Brigades, Company Commander at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Commanding Officer of 5 Brigade HQ and Signal Squadron at Tidworth in Hampshire.
In the winter of 1964, Kelvin fulfilled a teenager ambition by trekking by himself to Everest Base Camp, the first of many adventures.
In 1967, Kelvin drove from England to Calcutta, going through Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nepal. Two years later, he trekked twice with his then commanding officer to both East and West Nepal.
Pictured: A carry being performed on a steep ice cliff between camp 4 and 5 on Annapurna.
Since then, Kelvin has returned to Nepal 17 times, for regimental reunions, visits with friends but also as a trekker and mountaineer. He even met his first wife, Jennifer, in Kathmandu and the couple got married in St. Brelade’s Parish Church.
“My favourite things about Nepal are the people and the pull of the Himalayan peaks,” Kelvin said.
In 1969, Kelvin accompanied British mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington as he scaled the south face of Annapurna – which was considered as the most difficult climb in the world at the time. Recommended by climber and ex Ghurka officer, Colonel Jimmy Roberts as Logistics Manager, Kelvin took on the same role two years later as Sir Chris attempted the unclimbed southwest face.
Pictured: below the south face of Everest.
The father of two – “a wonderful free-spirit girl who lives and works in the Colorado ski town of Telluride and a gifted son who is a rheumatologist in Minneapolis” – moved to Colorado in 1976 where he started a small business after leaving the army.
Although he retired in 2001, Kelvin remains active on non-profit boards; he has also published five books and teaches courses at the University of Arizona in the winter.
Pictured: Kelvin, with frostbite, after descending from camp 4 on Everest south-west face.
Kelvin will be discussing the many tales of his adventures to Nepal, life in Dharan in the early 60s and spectacular glimpses of high-altitude mountaineering tonight at 18:00 at the Howard Davis theatre at Victoria College, where he studied from 1950 to 1956.
The talk is organised in aid of the Ghurka Welfare Trust Jersey, a cause Kelvin has supported since the trust was formed in the UK in 1969.
While he lives between Colorada and southern Arizona, “both very nice places,” Kelvin returns to the island frequently.
Pictured: “Jersey is such a special place,” Kelvin said.
“Although I left Jersey at the age of 17, it will always be my home,” he said. “Perhaps, living here for five years under German Occupation plays a part but having travelled all over the world, there is nothing more beautiful than this island, even in spite of the traffic!
“I miss the bays and freshness of the countryside. I also respect deeply our Norman/French culture - my grandmother was from Rouen - and the terrific history that Jersey can be so proud of.”
“Jersey is such a special place,” Kelvin added. “Although I have lived in or travelled through 63 countries, Jersey is unique. It has a quality all of its own, that is why I boast of it often and remain proud of my Jersey heritage.”
Lead picture: Kelvin in his Ghurka uniform and earlier this week in St. Brelade.
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