Shiplake scholars and other interested members of the Shiplake community were delighted to welcome adventurer, writer and speaker, Charlie Walker to speak about his travels, expeditions and challenges last Monday (20 September).
Charlie specialises in long distance, human-powered expeditions to develop an intimate understanding of the world’s most remote communities.
Over his ten year career, this focus has taken him to the Tibetan plateau, Mongolian steppe, Congolese jungle, Arctic tundra and numerous deserts.
He has travelled over 50,000 miles by bicycle, foot, horse, raft, ski and dugout canoe. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a lifetime honorary member of the Scientific Exploration Society, and a two-time recipient of the Transglobe Expedition Trust 'Mad but Marvellous' grant.
Mr Grant Woolner. Master of Scholars, said: "It was fantastic to finally get to listen to Charlie after having to postpone the visit twice during the pandemic. We met in Marjorie's, the Sixth Form Cafe, to hear Charlie regale us with stories from his four year, 43,000 mile cycle journey to the remotest points of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
"Aside from the colourful anecdotes and beautiful images of his trip, those present also took away terrific lessons of self-motivation and resilience which will no doubt inspire them to reach their own milestones, be they academic, sporting, or geographical."
