Polarworld - explore our events

Nigel Winser 
Executive Director of Earthwatch Europe
 

Nigel (our compere) was appointed Executive Director of Earthwatch Institute (Europe) in July 2005. Prior to that he was the Deputy Director and Head of the Expeditions and Fieldwork Division at the Royal Geographical Society in London.

Originally trained as a Life Scientist, Nigel helped establish the Royal Geographical Society's Expedition Advisory Centre and was then selected to develop its international field research programmes in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. For his services to fieldwork, notably in Oman, he was awarded the Patron's Gold Medal of the Society in 1988 and the Mungo Park Award of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. In 1991 he was appointed Deputy Director. Nigel has been on the board of several geographical and conservation bodies. Nigel has recently been awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from Westminster University for his services to the environment and conservation. Nigel  and his wife Shane – who continues to run the Expedition Advisory Centre, have been close family friends and supporters of the Herbert family for many years.

Kari Herbert 
Author, and Founder of Polarworld

Kari first started travelling at the age of ten months when her father, pioneering explorer Sir Wally Herbert, took his family to live with a tribe of Inuit for over two years on a remote island off the coast of Northwest Greenland. She has had a deep connection with the Arctic ever since.

Besides running Polarworld, Kari is a writer, with work published in leading magazines and newspapers, including The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The Independent, The Guardian, and Geographical among many others. She has had several solo photographic exhibitions.
 

Rory Simpson 
Representing Professor Hugh Simpson

Professor Hugh Simpson was a travelling companion of Wally when he was in the Antarcic working for the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS). He was represented by his son, Rory, who read a tribute about Hugh's first sledging journey with Wally in the Antarctic.

Hugh Simpson and Wally became firm friends in the Antarctic in the 1950s; Hugh was the physician at Hope Bay in 1955-58, and was Wally’s first sledging companion.Years later Hugh, and his wife (and author) Myrtle, took their children on many trips to polar regions. They all continue to spend much of their free time at high altitudes and high latitudes. Rory Simpson is an associate dean of the London Business School.

Benedict Taylor 
Representing Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor was a young cutting-edge documentary maker for the BBC in the late 60s when Wally was planning the journey. Although Richard had other films planned, he was persuaded by David Attenborough – controller for BBC2 at the time – to meet Wally. After a few pints in a pub and hearing of Wally’s ambitious plans, Richard was won over and eager to do the film. The Taylors subsequently became firm family friends.

Ben is an accomplished actor and voice over and now runs a small events company called The House of Honey. His son Ben spoke about how Richard approached the film and about some of the difficulties in filming. Click here to view tribute.

Eva Koerner
Counsellor and daughter of Dr Fritz Koerner

The daughter of Dr. Roy ‘Fritz’ Koerner, born just days before the British Trans-Arctic Expedition left Point Barrow, Eva shared moving and entertaining reminiscences of her father.

Eva lives in Northern Ireland. She spent much time travelling, inheriting her Dad's zest for adventure. Following studies in counselling she now works in mental health with young people. A picture of Eva is to come!

Professor Liz Morris 
Glaciologist

Professor Liz Morris is a leading Glaciologist working on polar ice sheets and their response to climate change at the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge University. A good friend and colleague of Fritz, Liz spoke about the value of his work and his scientific legacy.

Liz has been the Principal Scientific Officer at the Institute of Hydrology; the Head of Ice and Climate Division and the Research Activities Coordinator at the British Antarctic Survey; as well as the NERC Arctic Science Adviser – which saw her as the lynchpin for valuable research programmes during the International Polar Year.

Her research has included mathematical modelling of physical processes in snow, extensive fieldwork in alpine and polar regions, and experimental laboratory studies on ice and snow. She is now part of a consortium working on calibration and validation for the CryoSat satellite, Europe's first spacecraft dedicated to the study of ice. Liz was appointed OBE in the Millennium Honours List for services to Polar Science and was awarded the Polar Medal in 2003.
 

Robin Hanbury-Tenison 
Author and President of Survival International

Robin Hanbury-Tenison, OBE, is the Founder and President of Survival International, the world’s leading organisation supporting tribal peoples. He has been on over thirty expeditions, including as leader of the Royal Geographical Society’s largest expedition, taking 115 scientists to study the rainforests of Sarawak. This research and his book, Mulu: the Rainforest, started the international concern for tropical rainforests.

Robin has been a Council Member and is a Gold Medallist of the Royal Geographical Society; winner of the Pio Manzu Award; an International Fellow of the Explorers Club, Winston Churchill Memorial Fellow, Trustee of the Ecological Foundation and Fellow of the Linnean Society. Robin is an accomplished author, and is currently working on a book for Thames & Hudson, The Great Explorers, a book which includes Sir Wally alongside Nansen and Amundsen.

Wally and Marie and the Herbert girls lived for a time in a cottage on Robin’s farm in Cornwall and remain firm friends to this day.
 

Edwin Mickleburgh 
Author and film-maker

An award winning photographer film-maker and writer, Edwin was a member of the British Antarctic Survey from 1968-1971, subsequently visiting Antarctica frequently until the late 80’s.making documentary films for the BBC and ITV. He wrote a book Beyond the Frozen Sea detailing his experiences and the history of discovery and exploration in Antarctica.

In 1987/88 Edwin worked with Wally on a documentary film about the Peary / Cook North Pole Controversy based on Wally’s book The Noose of Laurels. Edwin and his wife Suzie have been close family friends for many years.

Pauline Collins 
Actress

One of Britain’s favourite actresses, Pauline shared funny and poignant reminiscences of Sir Wally and his wife Marie.

Pauline and Marie shared a flat together when they were both at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Pauline went on to become one of Britain’s most familiar and well-loved actresses, appearing in Upstairs, Downstairs through to being the star of Shirley Valentine. During her career on stage, film and television, Pauline has collected numerous awards both in the UK and ‘across the pond’. She is still Marie’s closest friend.
 

John Alderton 
Actor

A leading British actor and family friend, John shared reminiscences of the long friendship he has had with Wally and Marie, including trying to help Wally get fit for his Arctic journeys and other entertaining stories of their friendship together.

John has been a familiar face on the stage and on television screens for over six decades. He is best known for his roles in Upstairs, Downstairs, Thomas & Sarah and Please Sir! Since then he has often played opposite his wife, Marie’s dear friend, Pauline Collins in several TV series and West End Plays.

Marie, Lady Herbert 
Author and Counsellor, wife of Sir Wally Herbert

The wife of the late Sir Wally, Marie Herbert is an author, public speaker, counsellor, and guide and teacher of wilderness rites of passage. Marie has lived with peoples all over the world including the Polar Inuit of Northwest Greenland and Native American Shamans. She brings the wisdom and experience gleaned from a lifetime's travel to help people discover and utilize their potential.

Marie was born in Dublin, brought up in Sri Lanka, and educated in South India. After three years at the Central School of Speech & Drama in London, and two years teaching English & Drama, she joined the P.R. company of Prince Uri Galitzine as a researcher. It was there, in 1968, that Marie met her future husband, polar explorer, Wally Herbert (Sir Wally), just a few weeks before he set off on his historic journey by dog sledge across the Arctic Ocean via the North Pole - they were married on Christmas Eve 1969, shortly after his return.

With Wally and their daughter Kari (Kaari) aged ten months, she travelled to Northwest Greenland and lived with the Polar Inuit for 2 years. This was followed by a winter living among the Sami - the Reindeer Lapps - during which she joined the nomads on their spring migration from the mountains to the coast. Several more trips to Greenland, as well as research trips to Denmark, Greece, Australia, Zimbabwe and the Himalayas gave her more book material, and inspired her passion for the exploration of Ancient Wisdom and the unfolding of human potential. She is the author of five books.

With recorded and written tributes by:

Sir Ranulph Fiennes 
Explorer and author

A close family friend, Ran recorded several tributes and introductions for the evening. Sir Ranulph Fiennes is an accomplished explorer-adventurer and holds several endurance records. He was the first man to visit both the North and South Poles by surface means and the first man to cross Antarctica on foot.

Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes was born in 1944 and educated at Eton. He 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 (Ginny). In 1987, Ginny was the first woman to be awarded the Polar Medal. Since 1969 when he led the British Expedition on the White Nile, Ranulph Fiennes has been at the forefront of many exploratory expeditions.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston 
Sailor

Sir Robin was the first person to sail single handed and non-stop around the world between 14th June 1968 and 22nd April 1969, completing his outstanding journey just days after the British Trans-Arctic Expedition reached the North Pole. He then went on to skipper Condor to line honours in two legs of the 1977/8 Whitbread Race, co-skippered Enza New Zealand with the late Peter Blake to take the Jules Verne Trophy in 1994 for the fastest circumnavigation of the world, and completed the Velux5Oceans solo around the world race in 4th position in 2006/7 at the age of 68.

He was Knighted in 1995, and has uniquely been the UK's Yachtsman of the Year 3 times.    He was ISAF sailor of the Year with Peter Blake in 1994 and in 2007 was one of the first 6 inductees into the ISAF Hall of Fame. Sir Robin is still regarded as one of the world's foremost sailors. 

Pen Hadow 
Adventurer

A popular polar adventurer and speaker and friend of the Herbert family, Pen recorded a tribute to Fritz and Sir Wally from the Arctic Ocean where he is currently leading an expedition to the North Pole with companions Martin Hartley (who took this portrait) and Ann Daniels. The expedition, inspired by the British Trans-Arctic Expedition and its comprehensive scientific programme, the Catlin Arctic Survey will provide data on the thickness and density of the sea ice.

Pen has become one of the leading polar adventurers of his generation. An experienced guide, he was one of the first to enable people from all walks of life to make expeditions to the most remote places of the polar world. He made a series of bold expeditions of his own in the high Arctic in the 1990s, culminating in three extreme solo journeys on the Arctic Ocean. In 2004, Pen guided 63-year old businessman Simon Murray to the South Pole, becoming the first Briton to walk without re-supply to both Poles.  Pen was the organiser of a Gala Testimonial in honour of Sir Wally in 2007.

Sir Chris Bonington 
Mountaineer

A family friend for some years, Chris first met Wally when he was researching his book Quest for Adventure. In a tribute recorded at his home, Chris spoke warmly about Wally and put the expedition into historical focus, and gave a moving insight into the dreams of the pioneer.

Chris is Britain's best-known climber and has led countless successful expeditions, which include the first ascent of Annapurna's South Face and the South West Face of Everest. He has been at the cutting edge of climbing for the last forty years, making the first ascents of twenty peaks in the most challenging ranges in the world. He received a knighthood in 1996, has written fifteen books, and continues to inspire new generations of climbers.

Geoff Renner 
Geologist

One of Sir Wally's closest friends, Geoff was on the original shortlist for the British Trans-Arctic Expedition. A valuable member of staff at the British Antarctic Survey for many years, he is a hugely respected geologist and favoured expedition companion. 

In 1972 Geoff travelled to the remote Herbert Island off the northwest coast of Greenland to stay with Wally, Marie and Kari who were living with the Polar Inuit. During that time he and Wally enjoyed many adventures and long sledging trips in the long, dark winter. Geoff is passionate about the polar regions and is a popular speaker on cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic. 

Huw is a historian and Curator of Art at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge. Formerly Visiting Fellow at Harvard University, and Curator of Imperial and Maritime History at the National Maritime Museum, London, Huw is also a consultant within media and broadcasting and an expert in maritime and polar exploration history.

Besides running Polarworld with Kari, Huw is building a national collection of Inuit art, and curating a number of touring exhibitions. As an art critic, Huw writes for Apollo Magazine and regularly contributes to radio and the British press. Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery was recently screened on BBC2 and his documentary Wilderness Explored has also been aired recently on the BBC. Huw has been invaluable in pulling the North Pole and Beyond event together.

Prince Charles and Sir Wally enjoyed a warm and reciprocal respect for many years. The personal tribute to Sir Wally and Fritz written by the Prince was both touching and memorable.

Nigel Winser
copyright: Nigel Winser

Kari Herbert
copyright: Martin Hartley

Rory Simpson
copyright: LBS

Benedict Taylor
copyright: Benedict Taylor

Professor Elizabeth Morris
copyright: Liz Morris

Robin Hanbury-Tenison
copyright: Robin Hanbury-Tenison

Edwin Mickleburgh
copyright: Edwin Mickleburgh

Pauline Collins
copyright: Pauline Collins

John Alderton
copyright: John Alderton

Marie, Lady Herbert
copyright: Herbert Collection

Sir Ranulph Fiennes
copyright: Martin Hartley

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
copyright: Robin Knox-Johnston

Pen Hadow
copyright: Martin Hartley

Sir Chris Bonington
copyright: Ed Luke

Geoff Renner
copyright: Herbert Collection

Dr Huw Lewis-Jones
copyright: Martin Hartley

Portrait of HRH Prince Charles
copyright: Herbert Collection