Harry Greaves: Family of tragic Shropshire backpacker comforted by poetry he left behind
Poems written by Shropshire backpacker Harry Greaves before he died while mountaineering in Peru are providing 'great comfort' for his family.
Harry, of Bronygarth near Oswestry, was last seen on April 7 when he set out on a solo mountain hike, two days before his 29th birthday.
His body was found in a 40-metre crevice on April 20 and his family believe he lost his footing and fell.
His father, Simon Greaves, said poems written by Harry entitled A Life Lived In Love, This Is My Dream and What It Is To Be A Man, were of great comfort during a difficult time.
He said: "He had reached a new level of confidence and maturity and was clear about his aims.
"All the pictures of him from Peru show him looking handsome, fit and happy.
"Amongst Harry's things we found his notebook.
"It contained a pressed flower, butterfly and feather, along with two photographs of his dear nephew, Edward.
"It outlined his hopes for the next phase of his life, notes on his experience in Peru and a few draft poems.
"Given how near he was to death, they are particularly poignant."
Harry was found after his friends and family, assisted by the Lucie Blackman Trust and police, mounted a search using a helicopter and drones.
More than £33,000 had been raised to help find the former Rhyn Park School pupil through a crowdfunding appeal.
Harry's family had hired two professional mountain rescue guides and 40 local people to aid the search.
Mr Greaves said although they are still trying to determine the cost of the search operation, he believes there will be some surplus funds which he is keen to donate to the Lucie Blackman Trust, as well as charities in or near to Pisac where Harry stayed.
The family is hoping to hold a memorial event in the village of Bronygarth in a few weeks' time.
