It is 100 years since Capt Robert Scott left these shores to "claim the South Pole for Britain" only to be beaten by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen. Today, the record is still held by the Norwegians for the fastest, unsupported, unassisted crossing from edge of continent to South Pole,in a time of 24 days, 8 hours, 50 minutes. The Best of British South Pole Expedition aims to break this record and bring it home.
“Great God, this is an awful place” Scott on reaching the Pole – 17 January 1912
Antarctica 3 times bigger than China. Sea level to 3,000m. Temperatures of -40°C. Glaciers, crevasses, sastrugi (ice waves). The ice that Scott walked on. The infamous Beardmore Glacier. 90 kilo sledges. Mental isolation for 460 miles. 7,000 calories a day. Self belief. Teamwork. Against the clock. A world record. The Best of British.
This is a team event. It is not the six who will break the record, but it is our business partners, supporters and friends who together will make this happen. From the children in Year 2 learning about ice in the national curriculum to testing British carbon fibre engineering to inspiring people in everyday lives we believe success breeds success.
Come in side, learn about British polar exploration and Antarctica, meet the team, see how you can get involved, and how you can share in our success. Welcome to the Best of British South Pole Expedition!
Fortnum & Mason - our initiating partners, have been supporting expeditions since they opened their doors in 1707. F&M have been at the forefront of extending the influence of Great Britain overseas, their provisions have supported Wellington at Waterloo (1815), Florence Nightingale in the Crimea (1855), Mallory on Everest (1922), Howard Carter in Egypt (1922) and a host of other expeditions of discovery and exploration. A quintessentially British brand, F&M and the Best of British Team are a modern linkup with a traditional flavour.
