With a combined age of a just under century and a quarter, former Royal Marines Alan Chambers MBE and Dave Thomas reached the geographic South Pole at on 19th January exhausted but elated, having been on the polar ice for 59 days battling some of the most extreme conditions on earth.
There was extra reason to celebrate their arrival as Welshman Dave from Coelbren near Port Talbot – at the age of 68 years and one month – set a new World Record, becoming the oldest person to reach the South Pole unsupported and beating the previous record by an impressive four years!
Marking the start of the 360th Birthday of the Royal Marines this year, it was an especially poignant moment for Alan, too, as it marked the end of his 30 years in the polar environment. A member of the prestigious New York Explorers Club, he has over this time travelled the entirety of Greenland from Canada to the North Pole 16 times; to the South Pole three times and has helped to raise £15-million for charity. During this expedition alone, the duo has to date raised over £9,000 (inc Gift Aid) for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
Alan and Dave had set out from Hercules Inlet on 22nd November and ski-ed unassisted for 1,150km, each dragging a heavily laden sled with all their food, fuel and stores.
With challenging and ever-changing terrain and at the mercy of the full-on Antarctic summer with high winds, white-out conditions and temperatures around -24 degrees C with a wind chill of -42 degrees whilst crossing the polar plateau, they nevertheless experienced the worst conditions of the entire trip over the past few days closing in on the pole, the mental strain demanding precise concentration and careful planning on the task ahead.
Alan says: “Mission Spiritus has been two years in the making, planning, organising, training and fundraising it was a monumental effort just to get to the start point. It would not have happened if our wonderful sponsors, families and supporters had not believed in our mission. We can’t thank them enough for making it all possible.
Thanks, too, to the Royal Marine family past and present who have shown us a huge amount of support and positivity – the brotherhood has been a huge support. It’s not been an easy feat but our Commando Spirit has seen us through.”
Dave, who had his 68th birthday just before Christmas on day 19 of the expedition, adds: ‘’The 1,000km milestone five days’ ago was a huge milestone for us emotionally. And although we knew then we were on the final push and we still had several days of hard hauling we doggedly stuck to our routine, we were determined to keep to our planned pace, and resist any temptation to try and sprint for the finishing line!”
Mission Spiritus Antarctica is multi-faceted polar scientific expedition undertaking research into the global impact of nano plastics on behalf of Columbia University Lamont. and the effects sensory deprivation has on the body in prolonged remote climates in conjunction with Manchester Met University; and is also raising vital funds for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
It’s not been an easy feat but our Commando Spirit has seen us through.”
Alan Chambers MBE
