Getting to the top of things is very much the big theme this week.

First of all, we can report that two climbs we have previously previewed were happily completed.

First, a group from Bournemouth-based Lester Aldridge climbed Scafell Pike dressed in their work suits in aid of the Jigsaw Appeal (see [2004] Gazette, 13 May, 11).

And James Whelan, IT director at Southport firm Barnetts, made it to the Everest base camp to raise money for Whizz Kidz, and celebrated his achievement at growing facial hair and not taking a shower, we presume, with the same bevy of female staff who were wheeled out to send him on his way (see [2004] Gazette, 27 May, 11).

But the greatest achievement of the lot comes from Rob Sulley (far right picture, third right at the table), an associate at US/UK firm Jones Day, who joined up with nine friends to set the world record for the highest-altitude formal white-tie dinner party, reclaiming one of the great eccentric world records from a bunch of upstart Australians.

Sitting at 6,805 metres on Lhakpa Ri, Tibet, opposite Mount Everest, the group enjoyed a five-course meal of caviar and sesame seed crackers, smoked duck, wild mushroom couscous, chocolate bomb, port, stilton and birthday cake.

Taking the approach of 'we came, we climbed, we dined' - the Scot among them truly took his life in his hands by wearing a kilt - they raised more than 30,000 for the British Lung Foundation with their 21-day expedition.

It was made more impressive by the fact that none of the group had previous experience of mountaineering and they had to lug all the dining gear, including the furniture, themselves (Sherpas carried their non-dining luggage) in order to beat the record.

And three of the group dropped out on the way because of altitude sickness.

Should the bar feel the need to test out potential entrants to the profession in an even more rigorous manner than now, we suggest it could do worse than beef up the dining requirements along these lines.