Tom Avery Society

Each term an illustrated lecture is held at Cranleigh, given by someone who has undertaken an unusual and challenging adventure.

In addition, once a term, members of the VIth Form have the opportunity of attending an illustrated presentation in London at either the Alpine Club or the Royal Geographical Society. 

This term we are delighted to welcome Ed Stafford on Friday 18th March 2011.

On 9th August 2010 Ed Stafford became the first man in history to walk the entire length of the Amazon River. Ed, 34, from England, has led remote expeditions all over the world. He started organising adventurous journeys after retiring from the British Army as a captain in 2002. While not leading trips Ed worked alongside the United Nations in Afghanistan assisting with the first ever presidential elections advising on security, planning and logistics. Prior to this journey Ed was in production with the BBC on their conservation series ‘Lost Land of the Jaguar'.

http://www.edstafford.org/
 

Previous Guest Speakers:

Tom Avery - after whom the society is named. Tom’s first visit in November 2005 described his expedition to the South Pole, featured in his best-selling book, ‘Pole Dance’, and which made him the youngest and fastest person to reach it.  His second visit, four years later, focused on his record-breaking expedition to the North Pole in 2005, enititled 'To the End of the Earth'.

Alistair Humphreys - During his 20’s Alistair cycled 45,000 miles through 60 countries to travel around the globe in four years.  He has described his extraordinary adventure in two popular books and continues to lecture widely.

Ken Hames - after a 25-year career in the Army, mostly with Special Forces, Ken produces and presents the ground-breaking television series Beyond Boundaries that involve helping the disabled to undertake challenging adventures. 

Caroline Hamilton - Author of 'To the Pole', Caroline has led the first all-female team to walk to both the North and the South Poles.

David Gordon - ‘Gurkha Extreme: Mountains, Water and Ice’ told the story of a group of Gurkha soldiers who linked together three separate challenges: six marathons in six days in the Tropics, then canoeing from Bristol to London and finally crossing Greenland unsupported. 

Brummie Stokes - Brummie became the third Briton to stand on the summit of Everest in 1976. After a life spent serving as an NCO in the SAS, he now runs a charity in Herefordshire for disabled and disadvantaged teenagers, ‘Taste for Adventure’.

Dom Falkner - ‘Everestmax’ was a unique expedition to the highest point on Earth, Everest, having started at its lowest, the Dead Sea. This involved covering 5,000 miles by bicycle before the climbing even began!

More recently, OCs Mark Dormon and Steph Watson returned to Cranleigh to tell us about their respective adventures: Mark, running five mountain marathons in five days, and Steph's gap year in the Far East.

In addition, the Tom Avery Society was delighted to welcome back OC Richard Hume to tell us about his latest adventure. 

http://www.cranleigh.org/education-news/1252-tom-avery-society-richard-hume-oc

Not satisfied with being a world top 10 triple ironman, Richard embarked on the gruelling Atlantic rowing race at the start of this year.  He enthralled us with his stories of whales, dolphins, blisters and boredom.  It was clear that spending more than 60 days at sea in a cramped boat with only one other person perhaps tested his psychological more than his physical strength. Deputy Head Andrew Griffiths presented Richard with £1000, raised last mufti day, towards his charity and we wish him well with his next adventure!