SIR RANULPH FIENNES

Sir Ranulph Fiennes was born in 1944 and educated at Eton. He served with the Royal Scots Greys for a time before joining the SAS.

In 1984 the Guinness Book of Records described Sir Ranulph Fiennes as the “World’s Greatest Living Explorer”.

He was awarded the Sultan of Oman’s Bravery Medal in 1970, the Explorers Club of New York Medal in 1983, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Livingstone Gold Medal in 1983, the Royal Geographical Society’s Founder’s Medal in 1984, and both he and his late wife received the Polar Medal in 1987.  

In 1993 he was awarded an OBE for “human endeavour and charitable services”.  

Sir Ranulph has, through his expeditions, raised large amounts for charities.  He has led 22 major expeditions to remote parts of the world including both Poles.

In 2003, only 3^1⁄2 months after suffering a massive heart attack and double bypass operation, he ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days.

In 2004 he came second in the International North Pole Marathon and, in 2005, he raised £1.8m through his ascent to within 300 metres of the Everest summit ridge.

He is the author of 16 books including The Feather Men (a UK No 1 Best Seller), Beyond the Limits, and his latest, Captain Scott, the best-selling biography of 2003.

Sir Ranulph is a remarkable man and truly inspiring motivational and leadership speaker. Sir Ranulph is in demand as a corporate lunch speaker, after dinner speaker, conference keynote speaker and awards host.

Achievements

• First to reach both Poles (with Charles Burton).
• First to cross Antarctic and Artic Ocean (with Charles Burton).
• First to circumnavigate the world along its polar axis (with Charles Burton). This 3 year, 52000 mile odyssey took intricate planning, 1900 sponsors, a 52 person team to handle, complex communications, meticulous planning and iron determination mixed with flexibility. The circumnavigation has never been successfully repeated.
• Led the first hovercraft expedition up the longest river in the world (the Nile) in 1968/1969.
• Achieved world record for unsupported northerly polar travel in 1990.
• Led the team that discovered the lost city of Ubar on the Yemeni border in 1992 (after seven previous search expeditions over a 26 year period).
• Achieved world first in 1992/1993 by completing the first unsupported crossing of the Antarctic Continent (with Mike Stroud). This was the longest unsupported polar journey in history.
• In 2003, only 31⁄2 months after a massive heart attack, 3 day coma and double bypass, Ranulph Fiennes (with Mike Stroud) achieved the first 7x7x7 (Seven marathons in only seven days on all seven continents).
• March 2005, climbed Everest to within 300m of summit raising £2 million for the British Heart Foundations new research MRI scanner.
• March 2007, Sir Ranulph climbed the North Face of the Eiger to raise £1.5 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care’s delivering Choice Programme (now over £1.7m)
• Winner of the Greatest Britons 2007 Sport

Testimonials