Chris Bonington: What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

The question

What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Chris Bonington

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

When I was climbing I was absolutely happy. I can use a climbing wall, but that’s not the same as real climbing.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 March 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

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Kathy Lette Australian-British author

When the book of my enemy was discounted.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 June 2024 source ↗

Adam Kay British comedy writer, author, youtuber, comedian and former physician

In the one photo I’ve seen where my smile looks convincing – I’m four years old, so I’m guessing then. But I just won a Bafta and that felt amazing, too. So, roughly every 40 years.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 June 2023 source ↗

Tim Peake British Army Air Corps officer and astronaut

My happiest moments are when I am wild camping with my family in Scotland and cooking on a fire by a river.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 October 2022 source ↗

Bob Schieffer

When I finished writing a book.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2017 source ↗

More from Chris Bonington

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Question What lesson has mattered most in your life? Time & hindsight

Whenever things seem absolutely terrible, to see that you’re alive and that’s all that matters.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 March 2025 source ↗

Question How would you sum yourself up in three words? Identity & self

Resourceful, resilient and compassionate.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 March 2025 source ↗

Question What accomplishment matters most to you? Craft & work

Everest the hard way in 1975: leading the expedition that succeeded where so many people had tried and failed. That was the most complex mountaineering challenge I ever faced. I spent hours at night in a little tent thinking about what the next problem would be and how to solve it.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 March 2025 source ↗