George Spenceley was inextricably linked with two well-known figures. The first, Duncan Carse, better known to many as the star of radio's Dick Barton, Special Agent, led the expedition to South Georgia in 1955 of which George was a member. The second, his lifelong friend and early climbing partner, was the Guardian's long-serving Country Diary correspondent Harry Griffin. Together they walked and climbed in Westmorland and Cumberland in the 50s and 60s, and met again some 12 years ago at George's 80th birthday celebration at Low Hall Garth, Little Langdale, a favourite playground for both of them several decades before.
In 2011, George's climbing club of 70 years, the Yorkshire Ramblers' Club, acknowledged his extraordinary accomplishments with a lifetime achievement award, the first ever bestowed by the club.