UK’s greatest ever explorer navigates a path to Moray


One of the greatest explorers in the world will find his way to Moray next week as part of a UK-wide tour.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes has included Gordonstoun School in Duffus as part of a tour that will take in London’s Royal Festival Hall as well as visits to Inverness and Aviemore.

Described by the Guinness Book of Records at the ‘World’s Greatest Living Explorer’, Sir Ranulph has led over 30 international expeditions and was the author of the biography of Captain Scott – “To Set the Record Straight”.

The biography was the first written by anyone who had suffered the same deprivations, stress and physical strain of the Antartic explorer.

Sir Ranulph’s visit to Moray provides a unique opportunity for people to learn more about the man who served in the SAS for eight years before setting up a training facility for British soldiers in Germany.

He went on to produce a list of adventure achievements that reads like someone from a James Bond novel – many of which have themselves been put into print.

Even in defeat he has remained philosophical – and ultimately successful. He pointed out during a similar tour last year that even though his last attempt at conquering Everest failed, the expedition still managed to raise £2million for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Amongst his incredible achievements Sir Ranulph discovered the lost city of Uber in Oman – a 26-year-long search that ended after he pilfered a map produced by NASA.

Even after suffering from a heart attack the 64-year-old adventurer successfully undertook and completed seven marathons in seven consecutive days in all seven continents.

One of his most recent Antarctic expeditions was doomed to fail, however, as he took on the challenge of crossing Antartica in winter. The 2000-mile trip in temperatures as low as -70degress was defeated in that attempt by frostbite.

Sir Ranulph will speak at Gordonstoun on Thursday, September 25 at 7.30pm. Ticket information for the event can be obtained by emailing SirRanHT2014@gmail.com

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