Biography
Sir Ranulph Fiennes has single-handedly defined the modern-day explorer genre. His monumental list of exploits allows him to stand alone in terms of achievement. Consequently, his speech is hugely entertaining in that he has an abundance of amusing and astonishing anecdotes to relay to his audience. He also reveals a passion for life, the epitome of carpe diem, which infects and enlivens even the most resistant forces. Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham Fiennes was born in 1944 and educated at Eton.
Sir Ranulph served with the Royal Scots Greys for a time before joining the SAS. In 1968 he joined the Army of the Sultan of Oman and in 1970 was awarded the Sultan's Bravery Medal. In the same year he married his wife, Virginia. In 1987 Virginia was the first woman to be awarded the Polar Medal. Sadly, Virginia passed away in 2004.
Since 1969, when he led the British Expedition on the White Nile, Ranulph Fiennes has been at the forefront of many exploratory expeditions. Described in 1984 as the "World's Greatest Living Explorer" by the Guinness Book of Records, his expeditions around the world include:
Transglobe (the first surface journey around the world's polar axis) 1979/82 during which Ranulph Fiennes and Charles Burton became the first people ever to reach both Poles by surface travel.
North Polar Unsupported Expedition (furthest north unsupported record) 1986, Anglo Soviet North Pole Expedition 1990/91.
Co-leader of the Ubar Expedition (which in 1991 discovered Ptolemy's long-lost Atlantis of the Sands, the frankincense centre of the world)
Leader of the Pentland South Pole Expedition which in 1993 achieved the first unsupported crossing of the Antarctic Continent and the longest unsupported polar journey in history.
Also in 2003 Sir Ranulph Fiennes, with Dr. Mike Stroud, ran 7 marathons, in 7 days, on 7 continents. He completed this despite his having suffered a major heart attack and double bypass operation in June 2003.
In 2007, Sir Ranulph climbed the North Face of the Eiger and raised over £1.71 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care’s delivering Choice Programme.
In 2009, Sir Ranulph conquered Everest (aged 65) raising further funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
In 2011, he spoke at 'The OutdoorsShow' as an 'Outdoor Hero'.
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