Introduction
Henry Crosby was my good friend. He was 41, from Saffron Walden, and was killed by an avalanche while ice climbing on Gaustatoppen mountain in Norway on 21 February 2025.
He was doing exactly what he loved, exactly as he always had. I wrote this for his eulogy.
Details
Article First Published on: Mar 25
Remembering Henry
Rest in Peace. Henry Crosby. 1983 - 2025
An Adventurous First Impression
Henry was one of the first people I met at university. I remember meeting him whilst queuing up with him, Luke and Rich outside the Mechanical Engineering department in 2001. One of the first stories Henry told me was about rolling a Land Rover at home. Just a casual anecdote for him, but for me, it was a sign that life with Henry was going to be anything but ordinary.
From that moment on, I knew he was someone who embraced adventure in a way few others did. He was a constant presence throughout university, sitting next to me in lectures, and later a housemate in our fourth and fifth years. But more than that, he became a friend who inspired me in ways I never expected.
The Daily Adventures of Student Life
Even the simplest things with Henry had a way of turning into adventures. Our daily commute to the Mech Eng department from our Storer Road house was never dull, especially with Henry's bike. It was absurdly heavy, as solid as iron, and so badly maintained that every ride was an accident waiting to happen.
One day, he managed to lock it up in town and then lost the key, leading to an unforgettable scene where he somehow convinced the fire brigade to cut it free with a hydraulic cutter, right in the middle of Loughborough. It was a spectacle. Henry standing there completely unfazed while a team of firefighters took industrial grade equipment to his indestructible bike.
Henry's Quiet Confidence in Exams
Henry's confidence wasn't just reserved for the mountains. It was evident in everything he did, even in exams. While I was stressing over covering every possible topic,
Henry had an almost unreal certainty in his abilities. I'll never forget one of our second year exams when he only answered one question, because he knew he'd done it perfectly and that was all he needed to pass. Some might have called it arrogance, but with Henry, it was just certainty. He knew exactly what he was capable of, and he never doubted it.
Pushing Limits in the Mountains
Henry and I shared a love for the mountains, and he was always pushing me beyond my comfort zone. He was much braver than I was when it came to rock climbing, and he encouraged me to take on challenges I wouldn't have attempted without his confidence beside me.
One of our more questionable decisions was entering the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon in the Lake District. A two day endurance event, it was tough enough without our foolish decision to wear fell running shoes instead of proper boots.
The relentless rain turned our feet into blistered, frozen wrecks. At one point, a full blown blizzard hit, and we found ourselves huddled inside a port a loo, desperately trying to get warm. It was one of the rare times we had to admit defeat.
A Legacy That Lives On
Henry had an unshakable belief in himself, the kind of certainty I have rarely seen in anyone else. I have always struggled with that kind of self belief, but whenever I find myself doubting my abilities, I will always try to think of what Henry would do. That thought alone gives me confidence when I am lacking it.