Portrait of Sir Wally Herbert
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the successful completion of the British Trans-Arctic Expedition. To commemorate this exceptional achievement led by Sir Wally Herbert, his daughter, Kari, will tell the story of the four men who were the first to reach the North Pole on foot.
The Monday night lecture Beyond the Pole will take place on 1 April and will be preceded by a Collections display in the Foyle Reading Room, with the opportunity for Fellows and members to meet the last surviving member of the expedition, Dr Ken Hedges.
Kari will then give her lecture detailing her father’s expedition to the North Pole accompanied by Hedges, Allan Gill, Dr Roy ‘Fritz’ Koerner and their 40 dogs. The 16 month long journey from Alaska to Spitsbergen was the first surface survey of the frozen polar ocean, and provided benchmark data for predictions about melting polar ice caps and associated climate change issues made today.
Beyond the Pole is for Fellows and members only and seats are offered on a first come, first-served basis. Find out more.