FinalAnnReport 2004 _artwork - Hugha.co.uk

BSES EXPEDITIONS 

2004 ANNUAL REPORT 

ICELAND 2004 

TANZANIA 2004 

SVALBARD 2004 

THE BRITISH SCHOOLS EXPLORING SOCIETY

BSES EXPEDITIONS | ANNUAL REPORT 2004 

CONTENTS CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 

Chairman’s Report 02 

Executive Director’s Introduction 04 

Officers and Council of the Society 05 

Council’s Report 06 

Auditor’s Report 07 

Statement of Financial Activities 08 

Balance Sheet 09 

Expedition Reports 

Iceland 2004 10 

The Mountain of God Expedition, Tanzania 2004 13 

Svalbard 2004 16 

Annual General Meeting 19 

Previous Expeditions of the Society 22 

Star Schools 23 

Acknowledgements 23 

Hon. Editor: Michael F Ridd. 

02 

Roy Wood, Chairman BSES Expeditions 

Once again I am pleased to report that the Society mounted three 

expeditions during the summer. As will be seen from the descriptions 

which follow in this report, Iceland and Svalbard were a return to 

traditional BSES areas while Tanzania broke new ground in Africa. 

Sincere thanks and appreciation go to the leader teams, to the office 

staff and to all the others whose efforts contributed to that special 

BSES experience. I was delighted to be able to sample life in the field 

for an all-too-short week in Svalbard. It was very impressive in 

all respects and left me in no doubt why BSES and its future are so 

important. 

The year saw the introduction of Young Leader fires on the Iceland 

expedition. This initiative links the interest expressed by YEs who have 

completed a first expedition and wish to prepare themselves to lead 

in the future with the Society’s own need to bring on leaders for 

forthcoming expeditions. A programme was designed leading to the 

Basic Expedition Leader Award (BELA) and, although there are clearly 

improvements to be made to the details, the concept was successful 

and will be repeated on the Peru expedition in 2005. 

Last year I mentioned that YE recruiting was causing considerable 

concern. The numbers for 2003 were at their lowest level for a decade 

and this had a direct effect on our finances. To address this situation 

we held a strategy meeting in January 2004 which led to three business 

plan options. The "target" plan looked for recovery and expansion 

over the next four years, The "realistic" was based on recovery and 

then maintenance of our position while the third faced a worst 

case scenario. The Council agreed to strive towards the target plan, to 

budget for the realistic option and to monitor progress during the year.

I am pleased to report that the numbers on the 2004 expeditions 

(YE + YL) showed a significant improvement on 2003 and the number 

of acceptances (with deposits paid) for 2005 is well ahead of previous 

totals at this point in the recruiting process. Our finances also made a 

huge improvement, recovering to a break even point after last year’s 

deficit. Fund raising, which was started late last year and is another 

vital aspect of our recovery plans, has been slow but it now seems 

to be showing encouraging signs. The Council believes these factors 

indicate that the recovery is starting and for the 04/05 financial year 

we are looking for a result between our realistic and target options. 

We will need focus and hard work to carry this through successfully 

but I must thank all those who have contributed so much at these early 

stages. However, I do wish to make a direct appeal to the membership 

for any help you can give with the fund raising. If you know someone 

with influence in a company or a trust or if you can help in some more 

direct way, the office would be delighted to hear from you. 

Particularly with a view to the Society’s 75th Anniversary in 2007 we 

are also seeking to improve our membership records mainly through 

points of contact with each expedition. We still need help in this area, 

so if you can assist in any way, do please contact the office. As part 

of this effort a new package of membership benefits has been 

introduced and two very successful members’ dinners were held in 

London during 2004. 

During the year, the Council decided that Council Members should 

serve a maximum of two three-year terms and then stand down for a 

year. Under this rule Pat Cannings, Tony Whiting and Richard Wood 

step down in January 2005. They have all contributed enormously in so 

many ways and we hope that they will continue their links with the 

Committees during 2005 and seek re-election next year. After many 

years of sterling service to the Society both as a leader and in our 

committees , Brian Needham has also decided to leave the Council and 

to stand down as Vice Chairman. We will miss his contribution. 

Once again I must pay a very special tribute to our office staff so 

ably led by Alexander Matheson. As well as dealing cheerfully and 

efficiently with the all the routine work required to put the expeditions 

into the field, they have also had to face an increasing load 

of regulation and other effects of an ever more litigious society. The 

energy and initiative shown by Sam Eve on the recruiting front, 

by Sarah Patton on applications and administration, by newcomer 

Sarah-Jane Goodall at the expeditions desk and in the stores, by 

Robert Kibble with the accounts, all actively supported by Tori James, 

continues to be most impressive and much appreciated. 

So, although we have been through a rough patch financially, we 

continue to run excellent expeditions for which the demand is once 

again picking up. However, we need support to raise YE numbers still 

further and to raise funds. Please do all you can to help your Society. 

Roy Wood 

CHAIRMANS REPORT | 2004 

OUR PURPOSE… 

to provide young people with an intense and lasting experience 

of self-discovery in a demanding and natural wilderness environment. 

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 

03


4 

Alexander Matheson, Executive Director BSES Expeditions 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S INTRODUCTION 

The last year has been both busy and rewarding for the Society. 

Marketing initiatives have been at the front of our minds. The most 

visible has been the introduction of Regional Open Days throughout 

the country. These Open Days provided valuable opportunities for a 

range of people - potential Young Explorers, parents, school teachers 

and even Young Explorers who had already been accepted for an 

expedition but still wished to discover more. The success of these days 

has led us to plan more for 2005. We have also introduced a reward 

scheme for our Star Schools which continue to provide Young Explorers 

year after year, and a Bursary scheme to assist those Young Explorers 

who have difficulty in fund-raising. The Society has been represented 

at an impressive number of gap-year fairs and school open days, the 

Outdoor Show and at the Head Masters’ Conference which took place 

this year at St Andrew’s. The response to all this increased activity has 

been a very encouraging number of Young Explorers for 2005. We have 

also seen an increase in the number of people applying to be Chief 

Leaders on our expeditions. 

Three expeditions took to the field last summer; one of them 

contained our first Young Leaders Fire. This Fire undertook the Basic 

Expedition Leaders Award (BELA) which provides an important bridge 

between the first taste of expeditioning and building up experience to 

qualify as a leader. Much was learned about the organisation and 

programming for the Young Leaders Fire and we will be repeating it 

next summer. 

04 

2004 saw the beginning of a drive to recover contact with our past 

expeditioners. This will be achieved by picking one member of each 

BSES expedition to become the point of contact between the Society 

and all the other members of that expedition. If you would like to help 

with this, please contact the Office immediately; we are keen to include 

as many BSES members as possible in our 75th Anniversary 

celebrations in 2007. The generous donation of a sophisticated new 

database by the parents of a 2004 Young Explorer will assist greatly in 

the management of membership matters. 

There is one particular area in which members of the Society can do 

a great deal to help, and that is to provide contacts to further our 

fund-raising appeal. Our aim is to cover the annual costs of running 

BSES so that expeditions can become affordable to an even wider 

section of our target age group. This is a major initiative, aimed at 

grant-making trusts, commercial companies and other benefactors: in 

the longer term we hope to complement this effort by inviting legacies 

to BSES. We need to engage the membership of the Society to 

introduce us to grant-making trusts, livery companies, commercial 

companies, and wealthy individuals who might be sympathetic to our 

cause, with a view to sponsorship (of the Society as a whole or a 

particular expedition) or donations. If you can assist us in our appeal by 

introducing us to benefactors who would value our work in youth 

development, please contact the Office. 

Alexander Matheson 

INTRODUCTION

BSES EXPEDITIONS OFFICERS AND COUNCIL OF THE SOCIETY, 

JANUARY 2004 – FEBRUARY 2005 

Founder (in 1932) 

The late Surgeon Commander G. Murray Levick RN 

Patron-in-Chief 

His Royal Highness The Duke of York KCVO ADC 

Patrons 

Dr Ian Y Ashwell PhD MA 

Lady Bishop 

Sir Christian Bonington CBE 

Justin Brooke Esq MPhil (Exon) IMM 

Sir Neil Cossons OBE 

Dr Sir Martin Holdgate CB 

Sir Alexander Glen KBE DSC (deceased Mar 04) 

Vice Admiral Michael Gretton CB 

Major General B St G Irwin CB 

Dr Phillip G Law AC CBE 

Dr Hal Lister 

The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Robert Finch / Alderman Michael Savory 

Dr John Payne (deceased Aug 04) 

Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork MBE BA FRAeS RAF (Retd) 

Professor David Rhind CBE FRS FRGS FBA FRICS BSc (from Aug 04) 

The Lord Romsey 

The Rt Hon The Earl of Selborne KBE FRS DL 

Mr Robert Swan OBE 

Honorary Members of the Society 

Sir David Attenborough CH CVO CBE FRS 

Professor David Bellamy OBE 

Colonel John Blashford-Snell OBE 

Sir Ranulph Fiennes Bt OBE 

EW Groves Esq 

Sir Wally Herbert Kt 

Sir Edmund Hillary KG KBE 

Dr Hal Lister 

Mrs Iris Madsen 

Mr C Nielsen 

BA Nimmo Esq BA 

Mr Aubrey Roberts (wef Dec 04) 

Mr Roland Tucker 

Mrs Liz Tucker 

Mr J Vermillion 

President 

Field Marshal Sir John Chapple GCB CBE DL* 

Vice President 

Dame Mary Glen Haig DBE* 

Chairman 

Major General (Retd) Roy Wood MA MSc FRICS 

Vice Chairman 

Mr Brian Needham MA FRGS MLC (resigned Dec 04) 

Honorary Treasurer 

Mr Michael Reeve MA FCA 

OFFICERS AND COUNCIL OF THE SOCIETY | 2004 

Council Members 

Mr Pat Cannings BSc (resigned Jan 05) 

Dr Lorraine Craig PhD 

Maj (Retd) Anthony Evans MSc FRGS FRSA 

Mr Derek Fordham Dip Arch RIBA 

Mr Peter Harvey FRGS B-EMT (elected Jan 05) 

Mr Ken Josey BSc (Hons) FGS 

Mr Alastair Macdonald MA MSc FRGS 

Mrs Sarah Mayer MA (elected Jan 05) 

Mr Les Morgan (deceased Dec 04) 

Mr Owen Mountford (elected Jan 05) 

Dr Michael F Ridd PhD FGS 

Flt Sgt Davie Walker RAF 

Mr Edward Watson 

Mr Tony Whiting Med PGDipPA BedCEd FRGS (resigned Jan 05) 

Mr Richard J Williams MC (elected Jan 05) 

Mr Richard Wood MA (Cantab) (resigned Jan 05) 

Council Members ex officio 

Col Angus Cross (until Oct 04)* 

Col David Attwater (from Oct 04)* 

Executive Director 

† Lt Col (Retd) Alexander Matheson BA 

Expeditions Officer 

† Miss Felicity Aston BSc(Hons) (until Feb 04) 

† Miss Sarah-Jane Goodall BSc(Hons) (from Feb 04) 

Development Officer 

† Miss Sam Eve 

Finance Officer 

† Mr Robert Kibble FCA 

Administrative Officer 

† Miss Sarah Patton MA BA(Hons) 

Office Assistant 

† Miss Tori James BA 

Honorary Solicitors 

† Speechly Bircham 

Auditors 

† Spofforths 

Bankers 

† Drummonds Branch, Royal Bank of Scotland 

† = Not members of Council 

* = Ex officio members of Council 

BSES Expeditions is a company limited by guarantee and incorporated No. 2411786 

Registered as Charity No 802196BSES EXPEDITIONS 

(Limited by Guarantee and not having a Share Capital) 

05


COUNCIL’S REPORT 

The Council presents its report for the year to 30 June 2004. 

Charitable objects and principal activity 

The Company is limited by guarantee and governed by a Memorandum and 

Articles of Association. The Company’s objective and its principal activity 

continues to be that of an Educational Charity to provide the opportunity for 

personal development of young people through expeditions to wild and trackless 

territories overseas. This activity is unchanged from previous years. The charity 

registration number is 802196. The company registration number is 2411786. 

Organisation 

The Company is organised so that the Members of the Council meet regularly, 

either by way of a full Council meeting or meetings of committees, to manage its 

affairs. There are currently five full-time and one part-time employees who 

manage the day-to-day administration of the Company. The Council is also 

assisted by the many volunteers who offer their services from time to time. 

Members of the Council 

The Members of the Council are the directors for the purposes of the Companies 

Act 1985 and trustees for the purposes of the Charities Act 1993. The Members 

of the Council are appointed at the Annual General Meeting each year. 

As the Company is limited by guarantee, none of the Members of the Council 

have any beneficial interests in shares in the Company. 

The Council has the power to appoint additional Members of the Council. Such 

members are then required to seek re-election at the next Annual General 

Meeting following their appointment. Members of the Company are also entitled 

to propose candidates for election to the Council. 

One third of the Members of the Council are required to retire each year, but are 

eligible for re-election except that Members of the Council who have served for 

two consecutive three-year terms must stand down for a minimum of one year 

before seeking re-election. 

Development, Activities and Achievements 

In July and August 2003 successful expeditions took place in Greenland and 

Lesotho and in September 2003 a GAP year expedition ‘In the Footsteps of 

Shackleton’ went to the Antarctic. The income and expenditure relating to these 

expeditions is reflected in the Statement of Financial Activities. 

06 

Income was received in respect of, and expenditure incurred on, expeditions that 

took place after 30 June 2004 to Iceland, Svalbard and Tanzania. Such income 

and expenditure has been carried forward as creditors and debtors respectively. 

The accounts for the nine-month period to 30 June 2003 included no income 

from expeditions. This was due to the change to the financial year-end date. 

Directors’ Responsibilities for the Financial Statements 

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each 

financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the 

company and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that period. 

In preparing those financial statements, the directors are required to:- 

• select suitable accounting polices and apply them consistently 

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent 

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it 

is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue to operate. 

The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which 

disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the 

company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply 

with the Companies Act 1985. They are also responsible for safeguarding the 

assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention 

and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

Transactions and Financial Position 

The Statement of Financial Activities is shown in the Summarised Financial 

Statements. There was net income on the unrestricted, restricted and 

endowment funds of £10 (2003: net deficit £178,806). The Council confirm that 

the Company’s assets are available and adequate to fulfil the financial 

obligations of the Company. 

Risk Management Review 

The Council have formally assessed the major risks to which the Company is 

exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the 

Company, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate the exposure to

major risks. A review of potential liabilities of the Company, members of the 

Council and executive staff, has been drawn up by the BSES solicitors, and 

detailed operational guidelines have in put in place for expeditions. 

Auditors 

A resolution to re-appoint the Company’s auditors in accordance with section 

385(1) of the Companies Act 1985 will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting. 

Investment Policy and Performance 

In accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Council 

have the power to invest in such stocks, shares, investments and property in the 

UK as they see fit. The Council have engaged Generali Portfolio Management (UK) 

Ltd as investment managers, with the BSES Finance Committee reviewing their 

performance. The investment policy is to adopt a medium risk investment 

strategy based on maximising income. The investment managers have performed 

satisfactorily. 

Reserves Policy 

Whilst the need for certain specific reserves are identified in the accounts, the 

balance representing the general fund is retained on the basis of working 

capital being required in order to allow the Company to fund and run expeditions 

in furtherance of its charitable objects. The contribution from participants in 

expeditions includes an amount towards the management and administration 

costs of the Company. 

The Council wishes, in general, to retain a sufficient amount of the General Fund 

in order to be able to organise and complete expeditions in future years, with 

certainty, and the net free assets are kept under review in assessing the 

Company’s operational needs. As a matter of policy the Council is seeking to raise 

funds to improve the financial investment for future operations. 

Approved and signed on behalf of the Council by: 

Major General (Ret’d) R Wood 

Chairman 

Date: 9th December 2004 

SUMMARISED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 2004 

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ 

STATEMENT TO THE TRUSTEES 

OF BSES EXPEDITIONS 

We have examined the summarised financial statements of BSES Expeditions. 

This statement is made solely for its members and to the fullest extent 

permitted by law we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than 

its members for this statement. 

Respective responsibilities of trustees and auditors 

The trustees are responsible for preparing the summarised annual report in 

accordance with applicable law. 

Our responsibility is to report to you our opinion on the consistency of the 

summarised financial statements within the annual report with the full financial 

statements and Trustees’ Report. We also read the other information contained 

in the annual report and consider the implications for our report if we become 

aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the 

summarised financial statements. 

Basis of opinion 

We conducted our own work in accordance with Bulletin 1999/6 ‘The auditors’ 

statement on the summary financial statement’ issued by the Auditing Practices 

Board for use in the United Kindom. 

Opinion 

In our opinion the summarised financial statements are consistent with the full 

financial statements and trustees’ report of BSES Expeditions for the year ended 

30 June 2004. 

Spofforths Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors, 

Donnington Park, 

Birdham Road, 

Chichester, 

West Sussex, 

PO20 7AJ. 

07

SUMMARISED FINANCIAL 

STATEMENTS 2004 

FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 

Incorporating the income and expenditure account for the year ended 30 June 2004 

9 MONTHS 

UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED ENDOWMENT TO 30 JUNE 

FUNDS FUNDS FUNDS 2004 2003 

NOT DESIGNATED 

GENERAL FUND DESIGNATED 

£ £ £ £ £ £ 

INCOMING RESOURCES 

Donations, legacies and similar resources 

Incoming resources from operating 

activities in furtherance of the charity’s 

20,089 - 32,793 - 52,882 28,510 

objects 434,629 - - - 434,629 - 

Investment income 18,232 - - 256 18,488 9,760 

Other incoming resources 8,670 - - - 8,670 10,933 

Total incoming resources 481,620 - 32,793 256 514,669 49,203 

RESOURCES EXPENDED 

Direct charitable expenditure 279,960 2,000 13,093 - 295,053 35,292 

Grants made - - 7,546 299 7,845 3,900 

Management and administration 248,225 - - - 248,225 195,785 

Total resources expended 528,185 2,000 20,639 299 551,123 234,977 

NET (OUTGOING)/INCOMING 

RESOURCES and net (expenditure)/ 

income before transfers (46,565) (2,000) 12,154 (43) (36,454) (185,774) 

Transfers between funds 6,000 - (6,000) - - - 

NET (OUTGOING)/INCOMING 

RESOURCES and net (expenditure)/ 

income (40,565) (2,000) 6,154 (43) (36,454) (185,774) 

Realised gain on sale of investments 

Unrealised gain on revaluation of 

19,522 - - - 19,522 (14,542) 

investments 16,942 - - - 16,942 21,510 

Net movement in funds (4,101) (2,000) 6,154 (43) 10 (178,806) 

Total funds brought forward at 1.7.2003 85,458 102,000 96,555 9,730 293,743 472,549 

Total funds carried forward at 30.6.2004 81,357 100,000 102,709 9,687 293,753 293,743 

08

Statement by the Trustees 

The summarised financial statements are a summary of information extracted 

from the annual financial statements and certain information relating 

to both the Statement of Financial Activities and the Balance Sheet for the year 

ending 30 June 2004. 

These summarised financial statements may not contain sufficient information 

to allow for a full understanding of the financial affairs of the charity. 

For further information, the full annual financial statements and the trustees’ 

annual report should be consulted: copies of these can be obtained from the 

charity’s offices at The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, 

London SW7 2AR. 

BALANCE SHEET 

As at 30 June 2004 

30 June 30 June 30 June 30 Jun 

2004 2004 2003 2003 

£ £ £ £ 

FIXED ASSETS 

Tangible assets 44,507 39,048 

Investments 325,567 350,456 

370,074 389,504 

CURRENT ASSETS 

Debtors 141,180 161,820 

Cash at bank and in hand 184,702 131,114 

325,882 292,934 

CREDITORS: Amounts falling due 

within one year 402,203 388,695 

SUMMARISED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 2004 

The full annual financial statements have been subject to an independent audit 

and received an unqualified report. 

The annual financial statements were approved by the trustees on 2 November 

2004 and have been submitted to the Charity Commission and to Companies 

House. 

On behalf of the trustees: 

Maj Gen (Ret’d) R Wood, 

Chairman. 

NET CURRENT (LIABILITIES) (76,321) (95,761) 

NET ASSETS £293,753 £293,743 

Representing:- 

UNRESTRICTED FUNDS 

Designated Funds 100,000 102,000 

General Funds 81,357 85,458 

RESTRICTED FUNDS 

Restricted Funds 102,709 96,555 

Endowment Funds 9,687 9,730 

FUND BALANCES £293,753 £293,743 

09


Chief Leader: Brian Needham 

INTRODUCTION 

The expedition to Iceland was the Society’s seventeenth in that most welcoming 

country, and was fortunate to have as its Patrons: H.E. the President of Iceland, 

Olafur Ragnar Grimsson; H.E. the Icelandic Ambassador to the UK, Sverrir Haukur 

Gunnlaugsson; and H.E. the UK Ambassador to Iceland, Alp Mehmet. The main 

expedition ran from 15th July to 16th August and comprised 16 leaders, 21 

Young Leaders and 31 Young Explorers, making 68 in all, the largest youth 

expedition to leave the UK in 2004. Additionally, a volunteer group of 27 (four 

leaders, twelve Young Leaders and eleven Young Explorers) stayed a further week 

for a hike through Iceland’s centre, from north to south, covering over a hundred 

kilometres and straying west and east off the main track to take in the more 

beautiful or scientifically more interesting areas (and passing, incidentally, the 

BSES basecamps of 1951 and 1964). 

North of the Vatnajokull icecap lies one of Iceland’s most fascinating and varied 

volcanic landscapes. Ice and boiling geothermal infernos meet at the edges of the 

glacier, and there one of the largest remaining pristine wildernesses in Europe 

begins – a vast panorama of wild rivers, waterfalls, brooding mountains and 

mossy highlands thick with flowers. A large part of this is due to disappear under 

150m. of water by 2006, when the Karahnjukar dam is completed. Work has 

begun and the resulting reservoir, to be called Halslon, will inundate a 57 sq.km. 

swathe of country. 

The deep springy mattress of moss, grass and flowers makes for difficult 

walking, but this is one of the main breeding grounds for the area’s reindeer, 

while thousands of pink-footed geese graze the uplands and it is a favourite 

haunt of the snowy owl, ptarmigan, and gyrfalcon. Red rocky gorges give way to 

barren black sediment ledges moulded by glacial movement and sensitive to 

atmospheric changes; these formations are the record of 10,000 years of 

geological and climatic change. This was the scientific fieldwork area, and 

projects were undertaken in botany, glaciology, and ornithology. 

Basecamp was established at the roadhead (at 64˚ 44’ 11" N, 15˚ 42’ 082 W, and 

800m above sea level) and just ten kilometres to the south lay the vast 

Vatnajokull icecap. Brooding over Basecamp was Snaefell, at 1833m the highest 

10 


Left: Hiking past Langjokull on the Kjolur Trek. Above: Glaciology Fire taking ablation measurements 

mountain in Iceland. The area therefore provided great scope for exploration. 

All expedition members participated in extensive mountaineering training 

and acquired the techniques for safe movement on glaciers. They also had the 

opportunity to complete the expedition and residential sections of The Duke of 

Edinburgh’s Award, the Queen’s Scout Award and the Queen’s Guide Award. 

Additionally all members of the expedition gained the Explorer Award of the John 

Muir Trust, and had the opportunity to undertake the Bronze and Silver levels of 

the National Navigation Award, with 30 gaining both bronze and silver; (Iceland 

maps do not allow the setting of a sufficiently detailed course for examination 

at Gold level). 

THE EXPEDITION 

The Advance Party (comprising the Chief Leader and Base Camp Manager) left 

Aberdeen with the Landrover (most kindly provided by the Gordon Foundation) 

on 5th July, arrived in Iceland on 8th July and cleared Customs. They were then 

joined in Egilsstadir on 9th July by Malcolm Bell and Jeremy Ivens who had flown 

out from Heathrow the day before. Basecamp was established and all was made 

ready for the arrival of the main party on July 16th. After a two-day training 

session in basic campcraft and emergency procedures, the three Young Explorer 

groups dispersed to commence their activities, while the Young Leader group 

went straight onto the icecap for training under Mike Gilding and Ade Harris. As 

their training was completed they were replaced in turn by the Glaciology Fire, 

the Ornithology Fire, and finally the Botany Fire. At this stage of the expedition 

the weather was foul; very strong winds and rain dominated, and even at 

Basecamp survival became an exercise. Even so, the ice training went ahead, with 

each group hiking ten kilometres to the glacier edge and then a further ten 

kilometres across the glacier to the training area, with the leaders being ably 

supported by Young Leaders. All the normal activities of crampon-use, ice 

axe-use, ropework, glacier-crossing and crevasse-rescue were expertly taught 

and enjoyed, as well as camping on ice during many a storm. 

Meanwhile the scientific fieldwork was gathering momentum, with the 

ornithologists (led by Fiona Newcombe and Jackie Spong) hunting their 

pink-footed geese, first in the valley to the east of Basecamp and later in the

En route to snow and ice training 

ICELAND 

ICELAND 

soon-to-be-flooded valley to the west. Botanists under Malcolm Bell and Doug 

Jardine were already in that valley, taking an inventory of the botanical life 

before the waters closed over it all, and finally the glaciologists (led by Marina 

Smith and Jeremy Ivens) began taking various measurements on the glacier edge 

soon to be lapped by the artificial lake created by the dam. 

The Young Leader Fire was a new initiative by BSES, designed to give direct 

leadership training to its members. Nineteen of the twenty-one were experienced 

BSES expeditioners, ranging from Greenland 98 to Greenland 03, and had as 

their instructors Anne Humberstone, Liz Brookes, and Ian Pike. We had gained 

permission (the first organisation to do so) to run the British Sports Trust Basic 

Expedition Leader Award (BELA) overseas, and while the programme of BELA was 

followed, instruction was given right up to Mountain Leadership level. Armed 

with their new knowledge, the Young Leaders were then able to assist with the 

running of the Young Explorer Fires, although (and frustratingly for them) 

because of their inexperience and lack of qualifications they could never be 

given full control, since that had to stay in the hands of the Leaders approved 

by Council. 

There were no fewer than eleven successful ascents of Snaefell, with sixty-two 

members of the expedition reaching the summit, some twice and even one for 

a third time, with various routes being used (including a complete north-south 

traverse). 

Other lesser peaks in the area were also tackled (with one Young Expeditioner 

claiming all twenty-four summits of 1000m or more). On their return from Ice 

Camp, Mike and Ade established Rock Camp where expeditioners could practice 

single-pitch rock climbing, abseiling, and tyrollean traversing, all under qualified 

guidance. 

LAST PHASE 

ICELAND | 2004 

The last week of the expedition enjoyed magnificent sunshine (all that wind and 

rain now forgotten) and this continued through what some of us called the 

"tourist" phase. At the start of the expedition we had reached Basecamp from 

Reykjavik by a long journey round the south and east of the island, seeing en 

route all that was to be seen; our departure was via the north coast and a route 

down through the volcanic desert of the country, by Dettifoss, Myvatn, Gullfoss, 

Geysir and Pingvellir on the way. It was in this final phase of the expedition that 

the Trek party got under way, leaving the main party at the hot springs at 

Hveravellir in the west-central part of the island. They formed into four separate 

groups and hiked a hundred kilometres south to Gullfoss, with many a diversion 

en route, before visiting Geysir and Pingvellir before the final night in Reykjavik. 

These treks were uniformly successful, with just one participant pulling out (with 

an infected blister) on the last day. The route took them through magnificent 

country – volcanic desert between the twin glaciers of Langjokull and Hofsjokull, 

past the mountains of Kerlingarfjoll, past Hvitarvatn Lake, over the keel of 

Iceland, up Blafell mountain, and down through the Hvita valley to the waterfall 

at Gullfoss. It was a journey to remember for all who made it, and was led by the 

Young Leaders and Young Explorers. 

The homeward flight from Reykjavik to London on August 23rd left just the Chief 

Leader as the Rear Party,. He drove back across Iceland, boarded the ferry at 

Seydisfjordur, and arrived back in Aberdeen on August 29th stopping on the way 

in the Faroes and the Shetlands. All that remained was the long journey south to 

BSES stores and Guildford to hand back the Landrover to The Gordon Foundation. 

CONCLUSIONS 

The expedition went to an area of Iceland new to BSES. It accomplished all that 

it had set out to achieve, and brought everyone back safe and (almost) sound. 

When asked directly, all owned to having enjoyed their time in Iceland, some 

massively so. Some aspects of the expedition could have been better (with 

better weather), but a lot could have been worse; when all is said and done, we 

did see sunshine on an amazing 82% of the 50 days between the arrival of the 

Advance Party and the departure of the Rear Party, with 76% of the days totally 

dry). Was it a successful expedition? Since the main purpose of BSES Expeditions 

is youth development through adventure and scientific fieldwork, then only time 

will tell. 

11


Climbing Snaefell Ringed Plover, by James Starr 

ICELAND 

EXPEDITION MEMBERS 

Leader Team 

Brian Needham* Chief Leader 

Michael Gilding* Deputy Chief Leader and Chief Mountaineer 

Dr. Paul Poynter Smith Expedition Doctor 

Adrian Harris Mountain Instructor 

Anne Humberstone Young-Leader Fire Leader 

Liz Brookes* Young-Leader Fire Leader 

Ian Pike Young-Leader Fire Leader 

Malcolm Bell* Botany Fire Science Leader 

Marina Smith Glaciology Fire Science Leader 

Fiona Newcombe Ornithology Fire Science Leader 

Jeremy Ivens* Glaciology Fire Mountain Leader 

Douglas Jardine Botany Fire Mountain Leader 

Jackie Spong Ornithology Fire Mountain Leader 

James Starr Expedition Artist 

Craig Johnstone Base Camp Manager 

Darren Winterbottom Expedition Medic 

Young Leaders 

Edward Bennett* BSES Svalbard 2001; GAP Year 

Simeon Benson* BSES Ladakh 2001; University of Wales Aberystwyth 

Roy Boucher* BSES Ladakh 2001; University of Wales Aberystwyth 

Thomas Bradley BSES Iceland 2000; University of Bristol 

Molly Callam University of Nottingham 

Thomas Coling* BSES Arctic Norway 2002; University College London 

Peter Edwards* BSES Greenland 1998 

Alexandra Ewence* BSES Greenland 2003; Cambridge University 

Kevin Gascoyne* BSES Tien Shan 1999; Lesotho 2003 (Assistant Leader) 

Catherine Glew* BSES Greenland 2000; University of Derby 

Adam Griffiths* BSES Arctic Year Svalbard 2002; Oxford University 

George Henes* BSES Alaska 99, Svalbard 2002; Cambridge University 

Alison Ingleby * BSES Ladakh 2001; Cambridge University 

George Mitchell* BSES Norway 2002; GAP Year 

Jennifer Palfrey* BSES Svalbard 2001; Durham University 

Victoria Parry* BSES Svalbard 2001 

Samuel Rice* BSES Svalbard 2001; University College London 

Beverley Ross* BSES Alaska 1999; UMIST 

Vijay Shah* 

Belinda Thoday 

BSES Svalbard 2001;Loughborough University 

Mary Tonge* BSES Arctic Norway 2002; University of Liverpool 

12 

Young Explorers 

Marie Bridgeman St. Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, Bristol 

Thomas Brown Winchester College 

Christopher Bryan Wellington College 

Rebecca Burridge Channing School, London 

Andrew Cowan GAP Year at de Montfort University; Oakham School 

Thomas Durrant GAP Year 

Nicholas Green Royal Russell School 

Katie Gyves Loreto Grammar School, Altrincham 

Oliver Hallam Highgate School, London 

Robert Horton Exeter School 

Barney Horwich Royal Grammar School, Guildford 

Christopher Howell Selby College 

Anton Hyett Bishop of Hereford Bluecoat School 

Katie Long The Sixth Form College, Farnborough 

Joseph Mallalieu Lawnswood School, Leeds 

and now University of Wales Aberystwyth 

Sarah Moore Merchant Taylors’ School, Crosby 

William Moss Eton College 

Andrew Prestt Teign School 

Holli Pritchard Guildford High School 

Lisa Roberts Penweddig School, Aberystwyth 

Katie Robertson GAP Year; Queensbury School 

Ian Rowe St. Albans Roman Catholic High School, Witnesham 

Dominic Rowland Winchester College 

Katie Scott Hutchesons’ Grammar School, Glasgow 

Larena Soper Headington School 

Martin Sykes Warwick School 

Philippa Tomczak Alderley Edge School, Cheshire 

Christopher Ware Wellington College 

Lindsay Weare The King’s School, Ottery St. Mary 

Miles Whitehead Winchester College 

Peter Williams Teesdale School, Barnard Castle 

* BSES Member


The Mountain of God Expedition 

Chief Leader: Colin Nicol 

INTRODUCTION 

Northern Tanzania is well known for the mountains Kilimanjaro and Meru. Those 

who have climbed either of these may have looked westwards from the summit 

and seen the mountain Longido with the Great Rift Valley beyond. Just visible on 

the western side of the Rift if the air is clear it is possible to see a number of 

volcanic cones and the Ngorongoro Crater Highlands. This was the area of our 

expedition. 

PRELIMINARIES 

Planning for the expedition started in the spring of 2002. The Chief Leader 

proposed taking a group of Young Explorers [YEs] on a trek from Longido right 

across the Rift Valley and the Crater Highlands to the Olduvai Gorge in the 

Serengeti. This would include a climb of the active volcano Oldoinyo Lengai, the 

Mountain of God. 

The scientific fieldwork programme was even more ambitious. The geologists 

proposed a gravimeter survey across the Rift Valley, something never undertaken 

before but completed by the expedition with readings on Lengai and the 

Western Rift Escarpment. The ecologists proposed a study of the flora on Lengai 

and on the extinct volcano Kerimasi, just 5 km further to the south. In the event 

they achieved this and more. The surveyors, using "Total Stations" equipment lent 

to us by Leica UK, fixed the gravimeter positions across the whole of the Rift 

Valley. They then completed a comprehensive survey of Oldoinyo Lengai. 

The expedition relied on logistical support provided by Gane & Marshall Tanzania 

[GMTZ]. This was the proposal from the start, and it would have proved 

impossible without the expertise of their Tanzanian staff. 

The initial proposal was for the basic expedition to last four weeks and confine 

itself to the Rift Valley. An optional one-week extension would continue up 

through the Crater Highlands. In the event, the popularity of the extended trip 

was so great, not only with the YEs but also with the leaders, that we could 

perhaps have planned only the single five week expedition. Only seven YEs chose 

the 4 week option. 

TANZANIA 


TANZANIA | 2004 

The 36 YEs and 9 leaders flew to Nairobi on 18th July 2004. We arrived in 

daylight the same day but left the airport after dark for the four-hour bus ride 

to our first camp in Northern Tanzania. This was in forest at the south end of 

Longido. We were welcomed into camp by the local GMTZ staff, pitched our tents 

and turned in at three in the morning. 

The next two days were spent sorting kit, meeting local staff, and carrying out a 

mass ascent of Longido [2629m]. Thirty-eight people on the summit at the same 

time was quite a spectacle. After three nights in Longido the expedition set off 

across the Rift Valley. The first 20 km were in vehicles because of a huntingrelated 

block imposed by the local officials. The trek along dirt roads took us to 

a camp near the foot of an extinct volcano called Kitumbeinei. We spent two 

nights here before walking to Gelai. Part of this walk was across country with 

a Maasai warrior as the guide. This was the first opportunity for many of the 

expedition to see the villages built of brushwood and mud that the local Maasai 

live in. This area had not had rain since March, and the locals at Gelai were 

concerned about the lack of water, so from Gelai we were trucked to Lake Natron. 

The camp at Lake Natron served us for three nights. On the first day the leaders 

took Landrovers to Kerimasi and Oldoinyo Lengai in order to find suitable base 

camps. The whole party of YEs were driven to a nearby waterfall for a thorough 

cleansing after a week of hot dusty climbing and trekking. The respite from the 

heat and dust was short lived and the following day the Survey and Geophysics 

fires trekked up to the foot of Lengai while the Ecologists visited the southern 

shores of Lake Natron and trucked up to Kerimasi the next day. 

The following two weeks tested the stamina of YEs and leaders, with long days 

spent on the mountains carrying out scientific projects. The 6,000ft climb up the 

40 degree slope of Lengai was undertaken during the night to avoid the extreme 

heat of the day. Nearly every YE spent at least one night camped on the summit, 

and many spent two nights there. We were particularly fortunate that the 

volcano chose to erupt just 24 hours after we arrived, and kept this up for the 

next thirteen days. As "Dangerous Ben" put it: "hot and bubbly". 

13


Gravity meter reading in the Rift Valley with 

Leica total station for accurate positioning 

Oldoinyo Lengai from Lake Natron 

Oldoinyo Lengai from Kerimasi base camp 

TANZANIA 

EXPEDITION MEMBERS 

The time for separation into Highland Trekkers (those choosing to remain for the 

full five weeks) and Rift Valley Wanderers was suddenly upon us. A few walking 

wounded were driven round to the Ngorongoro park gate, and in the dark the 

following morning the Highland Trekkers set off up the side of the Rift 

Escarpment. Daylight saw just nine of us tidying up the camp that had previously 

held forty-five plus the local Tanzanians. We were joined for one minute by 

leader Sue Block who ran back in to camp for her towel left drying on a tent guy 

line. She ran back over the hill to mighty cheering from her audience. By mid-day 

the trekkers had reached Empakai village and made VHF radio contact with the 

Rift Valley Wanderers sitting in a dusty truck thirty kilometres away. The trekking 

group spent that night on the floor of the school in Empakai, while the Tanzanian 

staff and vehicles were delayed at the Park Gate seventy kilometres away by the 

newly appointed Park Warden. He did not want to recognise the letter of 

authority written by his predecessor allowing our party to enter at reduced rates. 

The Rift Valley wanderers climbed Kitumbeinei on their way back to Longido and 

their flight home from Nairobi on14th August. The Crater Highland Trekkers 

enjoyed a climb up Loolmalasin on their way to the Ngorongoro Crater. They 

hired vehicles for a day spent game-watching on the floor of the crater and 

arrived at Olduvai hot, dusty, tired and in good spirits. Sadly every expedition has 

to end and the bus ride back to Longido was long and tiring. Even there the dust 

remained firmly stuck to sweaty bodies for 24 hours, a hold-up caused by the 

local staff having driven one of the vehicles carrying the showers off the road on 

the way back. This last phase of the expedition ended with the flight back to 

London from Nairobi on 20th August. 

CONCLUSION 

The expedition was two years in the planning, and over in such a short time. 

Much of the planning was done by GMTZ in cooperation with the Chief Leader. 

The Tanzanian National Park entrance fees are prohibitively high, which led to our 

itinerary avoiding them for most of the expedition. The direct flights to 

Kilimanjaro Airport in Northern Tanzania are also expensive, hence our choice of 

flying to Nairobi in Kenya with Kenyan Airways. 

The expedition achieved its physical and scientific objectives, with all of the 

Young Explorers and leaders returning safe and in good heart. 

14 

Leaders 

Colin Nicol Chief Leader 

Dan Hamer Deputy Chief Leader 

Ewan Laws Geology Fire leader 

Sue Block Geology Fire leader 

Owen Mountford Ecology Fire leader 

Maggie Wilkinson Ecology Fire leader 

Hugh Anderson Survey Fire leader 

Mark Evans Survey Fire leader 

Sue Torry Medical Officer 


Edward Artley Derby Grammar School 

Jessie Barstow Marlborough College 

Will Bermingham Sir William Borlaise Grammar 

William Bradley Exeter School 

Holly Brooker Tormead School 

Helen Buckley Olchfa School 

Clare Butcher Olchfa School 

David Clough The Ecclesbourne School 

Lindsay Connolly Dunoon Grammar School 

William Coombs Tapton School 

Bryony Cottam Droitwich Spa High School 

Megan De Silva Ysgol Friars 

Iain Devon Winchester College 

Gilbert Harrap Harrow School 

Alex Hehir Olchfa School 

Rachel Kerr Milburn Academy 

Morna McLean Dunblane High School 

Laura McNally Loreto Grammar School 

Toby Oxenham Worcester Sixth Form College 

Sarah Palmer St. Catherine's School 

Vanechka Patel Wolverhampton Grammar School 

Angharad Pereira-Rego Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 

Adam Pill Exeter School 

Hannah Platts St. Aidans and St. John Fisher Associated Sixth Form 

James Reaney Winchester College 

Tom Renninson Exeter School 

Ben Robson Leicestershire and Northamptonshire 

Army Cadet Force 

Daniel Saker Christ the King Sixth Form College 

Ed Schwarz St. Michael's School 

Ben Skinner Cardinal Newman Sixth Form College 

William Smith The Chase Technology School 

Tessa Weale Victoria College 

Naomi Whittaker Charterhouse 

John Willcocks Exeter School 

Camilla Windham Exeter School 

Dominic Wordsworth Christ the King Sixth Form College

Survey Fire on the rim of a sunken crater, 

looking North towards Lake Natron 

Ancient Man in the Olduvai Gorge 

TANZANIA | 2004 

15


Chief Leader: John Ramwell 

BACKGROUND 

Svalbard is Europe's northernmost territory, an archipelago lying between 

latitudes 74N and 81N, and less than 700 miles from the North Pole. Spitsbergen 

is the largest of the four main islands and it was here that the expedition took 

place. 

A recce was carried out by the Chief Leader and Fieldwork Leader Dave Youren in 

the summer of 2003, and a base-camp site was selected on a rocky scree 

platform at the base of the Von Post Breen glacier. This would give us ready 

access to mountains, glaciers and high snow-covered plateaus. Being on the 

coast of Templefjorden we would also have boat access from Longyearbyen, 

some 60 km away. 


After over a year of preparations we all met up at Terminal 3, Heathrow Airport, 

at 1330 hours on Friday 16th July 2004. The journey to Longyearbyen was 

uneventful and we arrived in broad daylight at 0100 hours on 17th July to be met 

by the Advance Party (led by our doctor, Martin Spurling) who had arrived a week 

earlier and who now escorted us to the tents they had erected for us on a site by 

the airport. 

We had four fires: Glacial Hydrology, Geomorphology, Meteorology and 

Perception, each led by a Mountain Leader and a Fieldwork Leader. With each 

fire consisting of 12 Young Explorers and two leaders, and with a Basecamp 

contingent of Chief Leader, Deputy Chief Leader, Doctor, Base Camp Manager and 

Boat Handler we had an expedition of 61. 

The morning was spent organizing the charter boat so it would take us all out in 

one trip that evening rather than in two trips as had been planned. The rest of 

the day was used to move all food and equipment from the container to the Lang 

Oysund’s jetty, with the help of a car kindly lent by local resident Edwin Bailey 

and with a borrowed trailer. Once the Lang Oysund had berthed and disembarked 


SVALBARD 

NORWAY 

its tourist passengers we loaded her and went aboard, accompanied by a dog we 

SVALBARD 

had borrowed which was to be our polar bear alarm dog. We left at 2000 hours. 

By 0300 hrs on our second day we were safely ensconced at our Base-camp. 

16 

Our first task was to move all the equipment from the landing site across to our 

Base-camp site and assemble it ready for distribution. 

Our Base-camp proved ideal. To the north was the Tunabreen glacier, actively 

calving huge chunks of ice into the water below. To the east was the Von 

Postbreen glacier, of which there is little left but a thin coating of ice. Behind us 

to the south was Noisdalen, a range of mountains, and to our west Sassenfjordan 

and the sea route to Longyearbyen. 

Our prompt arrival allowed us immediately to commence our training 

programme. We established four workshops or training stations: one on radio 

communications, one on medical/hygiene aspects, one on fire-arms training and 

one on mountaineering skills and safety. 

Svalbard’s Governor and his officers were very supportive during the planning 

and we were pleased to greet his senior colleagues as they paid us an 

unannounced visit during our training phase. They wished to check our safety 

and hygiene arrangements, which they found satisfactory. We subsequently 

ensured that we ‘left only footprints and took only photographs’. 

Once the training phase was completed the four Fires prepared themselves for 

departure from Base-camp into the "wild beyond". We staggered our departures, 

one of the fires leaving by water aboard our two inflatable Zodiacs. These vessels 

proved invaluable on the expedition, not just for logistical reasons but since they 

were an important safety factor in the event a casevac became necessary. 

An account of the mountaineering and scientific activity of each fire will be 

described in the full post-Expedition report currently being prepared. Suffice to 

say that each of them made the maximum use of the area as they ranged far and 

wide. Under these circumstances the radio contact between Base-camp and each 

fire, established each morning and evening, were an essential safety factor and 

they worked exceedingly well under the various meteorogical conditions we 

experienced. Perhaps we should give some credit to the Base-camp aerial which 

would have done justice to Houston Space Centre!

Tunabreen glacier 

The mountaineering activities were led by Philip West. Here is a brief extract 

from Philip’s report on his work with Geomorphology Fire. 

"Our intention had been to make an adventurous journey and to take 

advantage of whatever the area had to offer for exploration. Although the 

mountain Panoramaberget was only 18 km from BC, the journey was 

challenging in terms of both terrain and weather/visibility. Fourteen 

individuals with varying levels of experience of living outdoors quickly gelled 

into a team, and I was pleased to see the high morale and the enthusiasm that 

continued throughout the period, in spite of sometimes adverse conditions and 

resulting frustration. Naturally, mistakes were made and lessons learned but we 

were a happy fire, and the drama of the stunning views that we saw, albeit 

briefly, was the icing on the cake. Thanks, guys!’" 

I was enthusiastic for at least one fire to undertake the walk out from 

Base-camp to Longyearbyen, and so I was pleased that Perception Fire were 

determined to give it a go. The major obstacle was the river which runs through 

Sassendalen. There were two ways to circumnavigate this; one was to trek well 

inland, and the other was to portage using the Zodiacs. We opted for the 

latter, but even so the group had some tricky moments as they crossed one of 

the other rivers on the route. 

One of our major concerns at Base-camp was the ice-floes as they moved 

across the bay. The glacier opposite our camp was particularly active and with 

the wind in a certain direction the entire length of the shore at Base-camp 

would become clogged with huge ice-floes. Several times we had a real 

challenge in getting the Zodiacs into open water. Consequently I decided to 

move our Base-camp several kilometres west to escape the ice and ensure the 

charter boat, the Lang Oysund, would be able to retrieve us all at the end of 

the expedition. 

SAFETY 

The risk-assessment study we did before the expedition proved to be relevant 

and complete. Expeditions necessarily involve some risks and although we 

Loading equipment onto the Lang Oysund Establishing Base Camp 

SVALBARD | 2004 

‘manage’ them we do not preclude them. An expedition without risk is one 

without any adventurous element. We were fortunate in that we had an 

adventure-packed expedition, but without incident. 

Keith Maslen, our Deputy Chief Leader, had also agreed to be our Safety Officer 

and several times his wise counsel prevailed. This almost certainly contributed 

to our doctor remaining largely unemployed (apart, that is, from his other 

self-appointed job of repairing stoves). One useful exercise that he and I 

undertook early in the expedition when all the fires had deserted us, involved 

working our way through various ‘what-if’ scenarios in order to reinforce our 

contingency plans. 

A major concern was the possibility of a close encounter with the local Polar 

Bears. The closest we came to one, however, was finding a large and fairly fresh 

footprint. At night we surrounded Base-camp with trip wires and miniexplosives, 

and carried rifles and flares, and on occasions we even mounted a 

night-time bear-watch. 

By the end of the expedition we concluded that the trip wire was of limited use. 

On waking we found on more than one occasion that the explosives had gone 

off, but we had failed to hear them for the noise of the wind flapping our tents. 

We could have been devoured as we slept! 

Finally on the matter of preventing bear-attacks I should mention our ‘bear 

dogs’. Before leaving Longyearbyen we were offered a couple of dogs in return 

for feeding them. Meteorological Fire opted to take one along with them and 

though it was great having it around as a pet, I have yet to be persuaded 

that it was an effective deterrent against bears. Then again it was never 

really tested. 

FIELD WORK PROJECTS 

At the time of writing the fieldwork results are still being worked up. I am able 

to report, however, that the field work was completed successfully and ranged 

from geomorphology projects under Dave Youren, to recording data on the 

17


Ken carrying out fire-arms training 

SVALBARD 

perception of mountain slopes by as many subjects as could be roped in. 

Unfortunately, the rather complex and fragile kite which was an integral part of 

the meteorology project did not stand up to the rigours of the Arctic gales. 

Certainly, feedback from the Young Explorers was very positive when they were 

asked for their views on the projects. 

CONCLUSIONS 

No epics or emergencies, medical or otherwise, meant that the base camp crew 

were largely unemployed. For this I am eternally grateful. Much work was done 

by the leader team and indeed by the Young Explorers on Risk Evaluation and 

Avoidance. Prince Andrew in his message to BSES mentions how we operate in 

a culture of careful and controlled risk-taking. The conflict between risk and 

safety is never going to change but it does, in my view, remain essential that 

young people are exposed to risk and that those leading them are adequately 

supported. 

I was blessed with an excellent leader team. I do not recall one word of dissent 

throughout the expedition and everyone remained committed to ensuring they 

and those around them got the most out of the experience. I am sure friendships 

have been forged for life and that we are all the richer for the opportunity of 

working together in the High Arctic. Finally thanks to our Patrons and to the 

BSES staff. 

MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION 


Richard Allan - Portsmouth Grammar School 

Catherine Baggs - Charterhouse 

Stephen Brooks - Christ the King Sixth Form College 

Harpreet Cheema - Bedford School 

Calum Courtney - Ainsdale High School 

Scott Docherty - Dunoon Grammar School 

Joe Dodgson - Dunoon Grammar School 

Ian Downing - Cowbridge Comprehensive School 

Michael Eldridge - Dunoon Grammar School 

Andrew Elvidge - Pate's Grammar School 

Kate Fearnhead - Surbiton High School 

Angus Fell - Bedales School 

Jamie Fiddes - Hills Road Sixth Form College 

Claire Fitzgerald - Trinity College, Dublin 

Rob German - King Edward VI College, Stourbridge 

18 

Daily radio contact with the Fires Walrus Working on the ice-cap 

Bethan Greenhalgh - Farmor's School, Fairford (on gap year) 

Abi Griffey - Frome Community College 

Anwar Hamad - Exeter School 

Paul Heron - Pate's Grammar School 

Alasdair Hogg - Forres Academy 

Oliver Homewood - Cranbrook School, Kent 

Patrick Ingle-Finch - (previous) Norton Knatchbull 

Yvonne Lee - Rochester Grammar School 

Chris Lloyd - Shrewsbury School 

Hamish Lowdon - St. Edwards School, Oxford 

Sarah Lund - Calder High School 

Melanie Madgin - Surbiton High School 

Sarah Marks - Weald of Kent Grammar School for Girls 

Laura Massouh - St. Catherine's School 

David Morris - Helsby High School 

Alistair Moyle - The Warriner School 

Guy Nield - Dean Close School 

Ben Nolan - Chipping Norton School 

Katie Parry - Downe House School 

Stuart Penman - Royal Grammar School 

Katy Prentice - Tormead School 

Andrew Proudfoot - Olchfa School 

Holly Reay - Cranbrook School 

Matthew Samuel - St. Michael's School 

Sally Shao - St Mary's School, Cambridge 

Thomas Smith - The Oratory School 

Thomas Sturdy - Cranbrook School 

James Townsend - Dean Close School, Cheltenham 

Victoria Trevelyan - The Portsmouth Grammar School 

Becky Webb - St. Catherine's School 

James Wilson - Pate's Grammar School 

Jenny Wilson - Biggar Ranger Guides 

Kenneth Yeh - Winchester College 

Leaders. 

Nick Banbury – Mountain Leader 

Olivia Dettmer – Boat-handler 

Justin Gould – Base-camp Manager 

Andy Hunt – Science Leader, Perception 

Ken Lord – Mountain Leader 

Derek Marshall – Science Leader, Meteorology 

Keith Maslen – Deputy Chief Leader 

Hamish Matheson – Mountain Leader 

Sarah Nield – Chief Scientist and Glacial Hydrology Leader 

John Ramwell – Chief Leader 

Martin Spurling – Medical Officer 

Philip West – Chief Mountaineer 

David Youren – Science Leader, Geomorphology

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 

EXPEDITION PRESENTATIONS 

AND ANNUAL BUFFET DINNER, 

SATURDAY 29TH JANUARY 2005 

This took place at Lowther Lodge by kind permission of the President and Council 

of the Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers 

(RGS/IBG) on Saturday 29th January 2005. 

AGM 

Forty-one were present, including the President, Vice President, two patrons, 

eight other members of Council and five staff from the Office. 

The Chairman of Council, Major General Roy Wood, took the chair and spoke 

from his report which had been circulated with the agenda. He reminded the 

meeting of the deaths of Sandy Glen (Patron), John Payne (Patron) and Les 

Morgan (Council) and offered condolences from the whole Society to their 

families. A memorial service for Les Morgan would be held on Saturday 16 April 

2005 in Bradford: all those wishing to attend should contact the Office. 

The Chairman was pleased to announce that the financial situation had 

improved. YE numbers had also increased 30% since last year. He thanked the 

Council and committees for all their hard work throughout the year. 

He thanked the Chief Leaders and leader teams of 2004 expeditions for all their 

hard work. A Young Leader Fire had been introduced on the Iceland 04 and 

it would be repeated on Peru 05. Planning for the 2006 expeditions was 

progressing. 

A strategy meeting had taken place in January 2004 to determine the way 

forward for the Society. A series of business plans had been produced and 

Council had agreed to strive for the target option while budgeting on the 

realistic option. The fundraising campaign had begun and was yielding funds. 

Three members of Council were standing down at the end of their term of 

service: Pat Cannings, Tony Whiting and Richard Wood. Brian Needham had also 

decided to stand down. The Chairman thanked them all for their hard work over 

many years. 

William Taunton-Burnet would replace Alexander Matheson as Executive 

Director when he left in March 2005. The Chairman thanked Alexander for his 

support and hard work during his time at BSES. There will be a leaving lunch for 

him at the beginning of March and details would be available in due course. 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING | JAN 2005 

In summary, the Chairman appealed for active support from all members to 

maintain the increase in YE numbers, to raise funds and renew contact with older 

members. 

The Executive Director, Alexander Matheson, enlarged upon his report which 

had been circulated with the agenda. He gave an update on the latest YE 

statistics for 2005 expeditions, and pointed out the likelihood of a noticeable 

increase over recent years. He thought it likely that the lower number of 

applications for Arctic Norway was probably due to that expedition being 

marketed much later than the others. 

He described the reasons behind the Governor of Svalbard granting BSES an 

increased capacity from 60 to 90 members for summer 2005. He commented 

that Gap Year expeditions were normally small but took the same staff effort to 

run as a summer expedition. He highlighted the importance of choosing popular 

destinations for the expeditions, explained the method by which YE planning 

figures were decided, and outlined the main challenges for recruiting YEs. 

The position regarding future Chief Leaders was now much more encouraging, 

almost certainly a direct result of the honorarium offered since October 2004. All 

new marketing initiatives were described, namely Regional Introduction Days, 

the Star Schools Reward Scheme, increased advertising at key times of year, 

attendance at the Head Masters Conference and the Outdoor Show, and the 

Bursary Scheme. The importance of the fundraising effort was emphasised. All 

members of the Society could help here by providing useful contacts for the 

Fundraiser to follow up. 

The 75th Anniversary was now only 2 years away. Volunteers were needed (one 

for every past BSES expedition) to track down the remainder of their expedition 

with a view to persuading them to rejoin the Society. 

More interviewers were needed, particularly in Norfolk, Suffolk, Merseyside, 

West Sussex, Devon, Portsmouth and Southern Ireland. Volunteers are needed 

everywhere to give school talks. An E-bay expert was needed to help sell 

unwanted kit and items currently held at BSES’ stores. 

19


The Hon Treasurer, Mr Michael Reeve, explained the accounts which had been 

passed by the auditors. There had been a small surplus at the end of the 

financial year 2003/2004. The large deficit of the previous year had been due to 

a change in the financial year, meaning that there had been no income during 

the measured period. He thanked Spofforths for their continued help and 

support. All 2004 expeditions had come in under budget. 

Acceptance of the accounts was proposed by Tony Whiting and seconded by 

Joyce Pearce. 

Spofforths were appointed as auditors for the next financial year. 

Peter Harvey, Sarah Mayer, Owen Mountford and Richard Williams were 

elected to Council. 

The AGM received the names of those Leaders and YEs who had successfully 

completed the 2004 expeditions (Iceland, Svalbard and Tanzania). They had 

already been elected to membership of the Society at the Council meeting on 9th 

December 2004. Their names had been posted prior to the AGM. The Chairman 

welcomed them to the Society. 

The AGM received the names of the Chief Leaders of 2005 expeditions to Natal 

(Chris Blessington), Norway (Stephen Saddler), Peru (Malcolm Bell), Svalbard 

(Trevor Clarke) and Svalbard Spring 2006 (Dave Thompson). 

There were no other resolutions for the AGM. 

In open discussion, various subjects were raised; they will be considered by 

Council and Committees as appropriate. 

Geoff Billington asked whether the increase in numbers was a result of an 

increase in Young Leader applications or Young Explorer applications. The answer 

was "Both". 

20 

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 

AND ANNUAL BUFFET DINNER, 

Sarah Mayer was concerned that the withdrawal rates would affect the high 

application rate reported. 

The President expressed concern about whether we had the scope to actively 

reach out to more schools. Teddy Watson emphasised that the fundraising effort 

should result in lowering the YE contribution, which will naturally expand the 

reach into a wider variety of schools. 

David Martin asked whether the Society would regain financial viability if it 

achieved the level of YE numbers which existed in the 1990s. The Chairman 

replied that this was the case. 

Sarah Dunne described a successful alumnus fundraising example from 

Birmingham University, involving telephone calls followed up by personal letters. 

It was suggested that we ask YEs to help in the alumni effort. Teddy Watson 

explained that the current order of priority for the fundraising campaign is trusts 

and companies and targeting alumni will follow once the new membership 

database has been established. 

Geoff Billington emphasised the importance of the Society acting as a business 

and increasing its marketing skills. Duncan Mackay highlighted the importance 

of doing school presentations in as many schools as possible. 

Brian Needham asked if the Society would be able to keep administrative and 

management costs the same and continue to run four expeditions if the YE 

numbers increased to 250. 

Ian Ashwell said that the reserves reflected the stock market trend. Brian 

Needham said that maintenance of the reserves relied upon raising £100,000 - 

£150,000 per year from fundraising. He believed that it was unrealistic to rely on 

this level of funding, which had not previously been achieved. The Chairman said 

that the reduction in our reserves in 2003 was due to the change in financial year 

and lower YE numbers in that year. He stressed that the reserves were no longer 

falling and were now stable. 

The Chairman reported on the operating deficit. He explained that, if fundraising 

was unsuccessful, expedition costs may have to be increased. However, he 

believed that the fundraising targets were realistic and showed an illustration of 

the amount raised by fundraising in previous years to demonstrate this.

Maurice Dybeck asked why the expeditions could not cover their own costs. He 

remarked that Brathay mounts expeditions using only one office member and 

volunteers and only 20% of the expedition cost is for administration. 

Teddy Watson said that the most important aim of the fundraising campaign is 

to lower YEs’ contributions in order to provide a wider range of young people 

with this opportunity. Graham Pitchfork said that fundraising is an essential part 

of the running of any charity. 

Matt Tinsley believed that increasing YEs’ contributions would be extremely 

detrimental to BSES’ survival. 

Tony Whiting reported that he had opposed the business strategy at Council. He 

believed the Chairman had explained the business plans well but would like to 

know a considered "worst case" strategy existed in case the target option is not 

met. The Chairman is in the process of developing a ‘worst case’ business plan to 

present at the next round of committee meetings. 

Geoff Billington requested that Council discuss the ideas suggested at the AGM. 

He suggested that the website be updated more frequently and that we use the 

internet to reach young people as well as teachers. 

Ian Ashwell reported that in 1992/93 much effort was made by Peter Steer 

trying to contact lapsed members of the Society. Two black folders containing 

his results may exist in the Office. Sarah Mayer said that the contents of both 

folders had already been incorporated into the existing database. 

Geoff Billington offered to be the Point of Contact for Yukon 1991 and to assist 

with planning for the 75th Anniversary. 

The next AGM would be held on Saturday 28th January 2006. 

There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 12.50pm. 

PRESENTATION OF THE 

EXPEDITION REPORTS 

This year VIP guests were Mr Fridrik Adolfsson (Iceland Air), Dr Ian Y Ashwell 

(Patron), Mr Edwin Bailey (Ingeniør Paulsen AS / Spitsbergen Travel), Lady Bishop 

PRESENTATION OF THE EXPEDITION REPORTS | JAN 2005 

EXPEDITION PRESENTATIONS 

SATURDAY 29TH JANUARY 2005 

(Patron), Mr Chris Burns (Cotswold), Mr Manoj Chitnavis (Exeter School), 

Mrs Sarah Christie, Mr Garry Doyland (Camden School for Girls), Mr Maurice 

Dybeck (Explorer Films), Mrs Marilyn Garces (Mercers Company), Vice Admiral 

Michael Gretton (Director Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Patron), Mr Robert 

Griffin (Exeter School), Mr William Joyce (Dean Close School), Admiral Sir John 

Kerr, Mr Derek Marshall, Mr Alex Minajew (The Scouts Association), Mr Phil 

Nichols (Air Cadets), Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork (Patron), Mrs Sue Osborne 

(Mercers Company), Mrs Anne Ulset (Information Officer Royal Norwegian 

Embassy), Lt Col Philip West, Mr Richard Whitbread (Cotswold). Other guests 

included benefactors and representatives of schools which have been strong 

BSES supporters, and many friends and relations of 2004 leaders and Young 

Explorers. 

The President introduced the afternoon, and outstanding presentations were 

given by members of the 2004 expeditions, namely Iceland, Svalbard and 

Tanzania. 

Following the expedition reports the President presented awards to the Chief 

Leaders of the 2004 expeditions to reflect the Society’s gratitude for the enormous 

amount of work which they put in. These were Brian Needham (Iceland), 

John Ramwell (Svalbard) and Colin Nicol (Tanzania). 

The President then presented Key Travel prizes to the winners of the Expedition 

Journal Competition. These were Megan de Silva (Tanzania), Paul Heron 

(Svalbard), Andrew Prestt (Iceland) and Katie Parry (Svalbard). Key Travel is the 

travel agent which organised the majority of our flights in 2004. 

At the end of the afternoon, the President toured an exhibition of expedition 

displays and spoke to the majority of YEs attending. 

GATHERING DINNER 

This year we went to Jury’s Hotel in Great Russell Street. The evening consisted 

of a formal dinner followed by a disco. It was a resounding success and 185 

attended, considerably more than last year. At the end of the dinner, a raffle 

raised over £530 for the Society. The annual dinner is a good end to a 

thoroughly enjoyable day, and we hope that it will continue to be popular. 

21

PREVIOUS EXPEDITIONS OF THE SOCIETY 

Finland Expedition 1932. Hon Chief Leader: 

Surg Cdr G Murray Levick RN, 8 Boys 

Lapland Expedition 1933. Hon Chief Leader: 

Surg Cdr G Murray Levick RN, 4 Leaders, 

30 Boys 

Newfoundland Expedition 1934. Hon Chief 

Leader: Surg Cdr G Murray Levick RN, 

6 Leaders, 46 Boys 




Lapland Expedition 1936 SENIOR 

EXPEDITION. Hon Chief Leader: Surg Cdr G 

Murray Levick RN, 6 Leaders, 64 Boys 

JUNIOR EXPEDITION. Hon Chief Leader: Capt 

C A Carkeet-James, RA 5 Leaders, 38 Boys 

Newfoundland Expedition1937. Hon Chief 









Newfoundland Expedition 1947. (First 

Post-War) Hon Chief Leader: Surg Cdr G 

Murray Levick RN, 8 Leaders, 70 Boys 

Northern Quebec Expedition 1948 Hon Chief 

Leader: Maj G F Spooner PARA 7 Leaders, 

54 Boys 

Northern Norway Expedition 1949. 

Hon Chief Leader: Maj G F Spooner PARA, 

9 Leaders, 67 Boys, 9 Norwegian Boys, guests 

of the Society 

Northern Norway Expedition 1950. 

Hon Chief Leader: Dr J C Hawksley CBE PhD 

FRCP. 7 Leaders, 55 Boys, 6 Norwegian Boys, 

guests of the Society 

Central Iceland Expedition 1951. Hon Chief 

Leader: Maj F G Hannell RE BSc., 9 Leaders, 

64 Boys, 2 Icelandic Boys, guests of the Society 


Leader: Capt J A Taplin RM, 12 Leaders, 

65 Boys, 1 Icelandic Boy, guest of the Society 

British Columbia Expedition 1953. Hon Chief 

Leader: Maj G F Hannell PhD BSc., 11 Leaders, 

69 Boys 

Northern Quebec Expedition 1954. Hon 

Chief Leader: Maj E D Stroud DSC RM (Retd), 

8 Leaders, 58 Boys including 5 Canadians 


Leader: Maj G F Spooner R Fusiliers, 7 Leaders, 

55 Boys 



50 Boys 

Finnish Lapland Expedition 1957. Hon Chief 

Leader: Capt A G Bomford RE. 10 Leaders, 

63 Boys 

Labrador Expedition 1958. Hon Chief Leader: 

Maj G S Murray MC. 9 Leaders, 63 Boys 

Arctic Sweden Expedition 1959. Hon Chief 


65 Boys, 2 Swedish Boys, guests of the Society 


Leader: Maj A P H B Fowle MC RA. 11 Leaders, 


Arctic Scandinavia Expedition 1961. 

Hon Chief Leader: Dr J A Payne MB BS, 

11 Leaders, 65 Boys, 1 Norwegian and 

7 Swedish Boys, guests of the Society 

Swedish Lapland Expedition 1962. Hon Chief 

Leader: Mr I Y Ashwell MA., 9 Leaders, 64 Boys, 


Arctic Finland Expedition 1963. Hon Chief 

Leader: Capt T D Dean 1st Bn East Anglian 

Regt. 9 Leaders, 66 Boys, 2 Finnish Boys, guests 

of the Society 


Leader: Maj W Stanford RHA. 10 Leaders, 


Arctic Norway Expedition 1965. Hon Chief 

Leader: Maj D R Goddard SCLI. 11 Leaders, 

66 Boys, 3 Norwegian Boys, guests of the 

Society 


Leader: Mr R J Wood MA. 9 Leaders, 67 Boys, 


22 


Leader: Capt D T Jackson PARA. 11 Leaders, 

63 Boys, 2 Norwegian Boys, guests of 

the Society 

Spitsbergen Expedition 1968. Hon Chief 

Leader: Dr J A Payne MB BS. 8 Leaders, 35 Boys 


Leader: Maj T D Dean Anglian Regt. 11 Leaders: 

69 Boys, 1 Newfoundland Boy, guest of the 

Society 

Iceland Expedition 1970. Hon Chief Leader: 

Dr I Y Ashwell PhD MA., 12 Leaders, 70 Boys 

Iceland Expedition 1971. Mr D J Mordaunt: 


Greenland Expedition 1972. Hon Chief 

Leader: Dr J A Payne MB BS 7 Leaders, 22 Boys 


Leader: Flt Lt D G Allan RAF Regt. 7 Leaders, 

50 Boys, 1 Norwegian Boy, guest of the Society 


Leader: Mr D J Mordaunt. 13 Leaders, 75 Boys 


Leader: Mr G Downie BSc. 10 Leaders, 65 Boys 


Leader: Dr Ian Y Ashwell PhD MA. 13 Leaders, 

63 Boys 

Arctic Finland Expedition 1976. Hon Chief 

Leader: Mr M L Winspear. 14 Leaders, 76 Boys 

(1) North Iceland Expedition 1977. Hon 

Chief Leader: Maj D T Jackson PARA. 


(2) East Iceland Expedition 1977. Hon Chief 

Leader: Mr R G Derrick. 5 Leaders, 16 Boys 

South East Iceland Expedition 1978. Hon 

Chief Leader: Mr R H Ward 16 Leaders, 48 Boys 

Northern Norway Expedition 1979. Hon 

Chief Leader: Mr J G Vessey. 21 Leaders, 

68 Boys 


Leader: Mr Harvey Jones. 14 Leaders, 

75 Young Explorers 


Leader: Mr Brian Needham. 31 leaders, 


East Greenland Expedition 1982. (50th 

Anniversary Expedition) Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr Roger Chapman MBE BA. 30 Leaders, 


East Greenland Expedition 1983 (50th 

Anniversary) Hon Leaders: Mr Ray Ward, Capt 

Mark Grieves R Signals. 3 Leaders, 11 Young 

Explorers 

East Greenland Expedition 1983. 

(50th Anniversary) Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr George Downie BSc. 26 leaders, 


Lyngen, Arctic Norway Expedition 1984. 

Hon Chief Leader: Mr Tony Duncan. 23 Leaders, 


East Greenland Winter Expedition 1985. 

Hon Leaders: Mr David Mordaunt, Mr Tom 

Metcalf. 5 Leaders, 14 Young Explorers 

Alaska Expedition 1985. Hon Chief Leader: 

Dr John Cohen, 29 Leaders, 


South East Iceland BSES/Colson Expedition. 

1985 Hon Chief Leader: Mr Ray Ward, 

18 leaders, 46 Young Explorers 

Yukon Expedition 1986. Hon Chief Leader: 

Dr Barry Meatyard PhD BSc CBiol MBiol FRGS. 

27 Leaders, 105 Young Explorers 

Kenya Expedition 1986. Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr Peter Drake FRGS. 18 Leaders 


Papua New Guinea 1987. Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr David Wright, 20 Leaders, 


Svalbard Expedition 1987. Hon Chief Leader: 

Cdr Chris Furse OBE RN, 23 Leaders, 



Hon Chief Leader: Mr Ray Ward. 20 Leaders, 


West Himalaya Expedition 1988. Hon Chief 

Leader: Mr Derek Jackson. 34 Leaders, including 

4 Indians, 97 Young Explorers, including 

21 Indians 

Arctic Norway Expedition 1989. 

(a) Lyngen Hon Chief Leader: Dr Brian Whalley. 

10 Leaders, 42 Young Explorers 

(b) Oksfjordjokelen Hon Chief Leader: Dr Anne 

Gellatly. 9 Leaders, 30 Young Explorers 

(c) Sea Kayaking Hon Chief Leader: Mr John 

Ramwell. 9 Leaders, including support group, 


Del-Monte-Fruitini Alaska Overwinter 

Expedition 1989-90. Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr Brian Hull, 5 Leaders, 31 Young Explorers 

Svalbard Spring Expedition 1990. Hon Chief 

Leader: Dr Andrew Collinson. 2 Leaders, 


Svalbard Summer 1990. Hon Chief Leader: Mr 

Pat Cannings, 19 Leaders, 68 Young Explorers 

Yukon Summer 1990. Hon Chief Leader: Mr 

Geoff Billington 16 Leaders, 73 Young Explorers 

Botswana Expedition 1991. Hon Chief Leader: 

Dr Alan Wilson. 3 Leaders, 24 Young Explorers 

North Greenland Expedition 1991. Hon Chief 

Leader: Sgt David Walker RAF. 17 Leaders, 



Leader: Mr Richard Crabtree. 15 Leaders, 



Leader: Mr Mark Evans. 5 Leaders, 


Iceland Expedition 1992. Hon Chief Leader: 

Dr Ian Y Ashwell. 12 Leaders, 


South Greenland Expedition 1992. Hon Chief 

Leader: Mr Les Turnbull- Brown. 15 Leaders, 


Del-Monte-Fruitini White Sea of Russia 

Expedition 1992 Hon Chief Leader: Mr John 

Ramwell, 16 Leaders, 50 Young Explorers, 

including 12 Young Explorers from Russia 


Leader: Dr Christine Partridge. 7 Leaders, 


British Columbia Expedition 1993. Hon Chief 

Leader: Dr John Cohen. 20 Leaders, 


Svalbard Summer Expedition 1993. Hon 

Chief Leader: Mr Duncan Mackay. 19 Leaders, 

2 Assistant Leaders, 72 Young Explorers 

Montana Expedition 1994. Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr Brian Needham. 15 Leaders, 6 Assistant 

Leaders, 72 Young Explorers 

Del-Monte-Fruitini Northern Norway. 

Expedition 1994 Hon Chief Leader: Mr Tony 

Duncan, 17 Leaders, 1 Assistant Leader, 72 

Young Explorers, 2 Norwegian Young Explorers 

Zimbabwe Expedition 1994. Hon Chief 

Leader: Maj Fiona Rose, 12 Leaders, 4 Assistant 

leaders, 54 Young Explorers, 12 Zimbabwean 


North Queensland Expedition 1995. Hon 

Chief Leader: Mrs Marianne Overton, 14 

Leaders 3 Assistant Leaders, 60 Young Explorers 

South East Iceland Expedition 1995. Hon 

Chief Leader: Mr Rod Hartley, 13 Leaders, 44 


Del-Monte-Fruitini Alaska Expedition 1995. 

Hon Chief Leader: Mr Tony Whiting 15 Leaders, 



Leader: Mr Mark Evans, 7 Leaders, 


Namibia Expedition 1996. Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr Jeff South, 16 Leaders, 58 Young Explorers, 

14 Namibian Young Explorers 


Chief Leader: Mr Chris Furse OBE, 18 Leaders, 


Vancouver Island Expedition 1996. Hon Chief 

Leader: Mr Keith Maslen, 16 Leaders, 


ANZSES/BSES Expedition to Tasmania 

1996-97. Richard Pitchfork, 

Hannah James-Roll 

Lahaul (Indian Himalaya) Expedition 1997. 

Hon Chief Leader: Mr Dominic Jones, 

23 Leaders – including Indian & Australian, 

69 Young Explorers – including Indian 

Sinai Expedition 1997. Hon Chief Leader: 

Dr Emma Loveridge, 22 Leaders 


South Greenland Expedition 1997. 

Hon Chief Leader: Mr Les Morgan, 16 Leaders, 



Hon Chief Leader: Mr Pat Cannings, 16 Leaders, 


Lesotho Expedition 1998. Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr Ken Josey, 20 Leaders, 66 Young Explorers 

Morocco Expedition 1998. Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr Alasdair Kennedy. 18 Leaders, 



Mr Tony Whiting.15 Leaders,57 Young Explorers 

Kenya Expedition 1999. Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr Richard Crabtree, 11 Leaders, 32 Young 

Explorers – including 5 Kenyans 

Tien Shan Expedition 1999. Hon Chief 

Leader: Dr Michael Ridd, 15 Leaders, 57 Young 

Explorers – including 6 Kyrgyzstan nationals 

Greenland Expedition 2000. Hon Chief 

Leader, Mr Les Morgan, 14 Leaders 


The John Cohen Memorial Expedition, 

Iceland 2000. Hon Chief Leader: Mr Chris 

Gwinnett, 13 Leaders, 46 Young Explorers 

Lahaul Expedition 2000. Hon Chief Leader: 

Ms Caroline Christie, 6 Leaders, 

19 Young Explorers, 

Malawi Expedition 2000. Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr Chris Wright, 12 Leaders 41 Young Explorers 


Mr Tony Whiting, 14 Leaders, 


Ladakh Expedition 2001. Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr Pete Allison. 20 Leaders, 52 Young Explorers 

Svalbard Expedition 2001. Hon Chief Leader: 

Dr. Lorraine Craig 12 Leaders, 


Svalbard Arctic-Year Expedition 2001-2002. 

Hon Chief Leader: Mr Mark Evans, 10 Leaders, 



Chief Leader: Mr Tony Duncan, 12 Leaders, 


Amazonas Expedition 2002. Hon Chief 

Leader: Ms Belinda Kirk, 21 Leaders, including 

Peruvian leaders, 58 Young Explorers, 

12 Peruvian Young Explorers 


Leader: Mr David Martin, 17 Leaders, 


Footsteps of Shackleton Expedition 2002- 

03. Hon Chief Leader: Brig DV Nicholls RM 

(retd), 9 Leaders, 21 Young Explorers 

East Greenland Expedition 2003. Hon Chief 

Leader: Lt Col John Muston. 15 Leaders, 


Lesotho Expedition 2003. Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr Nick Thompson, 13 Leaders, 39 Young 

Explorers, 8 Basotho Young Explorers 

Iceland Expedition 2004. Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr Brian Needham, 16 Leaders 21 Young 

Leaders, and 32 Young Explorers 

Svalbard Expedition 2004. Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr John Ramwell, 12 Leaders, 


Tanzania Expedition 2004. Hon Chief Leader: 

Hon Colin Nicol, 9 Leaders, 36 Young Explorers 

MEMBERS’ EXPEDITIONS 

Nepal 1978-79. Leaders: Mr R G Derrick, 

Mr Brian Needham 21 Members, Himalayas 

1981-82 Leader: Mr Andrew Toal, 8 Members 

Finland Pilgrimage Expedition 1992. 

Leaders: Mr Andrew Toal, Mr Murray Mitchell. 

5 Members 

Lahaul 1995. Leaders: Mr Andrew Toal, 

Mr Richard Kearns 8 Members 

Everest Base Camp 1998. 

Leader: Mr Andrew Toal, 13 Members 

Millennium Antarctic Expedition 

1999-2000. Hon Chief Leader: 

Mr Chris Furse OBE, 6 Leaders, 10 Young 

Explorers - including a Falkland Islander. 

Kilimanjaro 2003. Leader: Mr Andrew Toal, 

9 Members 

Everest Base Camp 2004. 

Leader: Mr Andrew Toal, 6 members

STAR SCHOOLS 2004 

Schools from which four or more YEs have been on BSES expeditions between 2001 and 2004 

Bryntirion Comprehensive School, Bridgend 

Camden School for Girls, Camden 

Christ the King Sixth Form College, Lewisham 

Cranbrook School, Cranbrook 

Dean Close School, Cheltenham 

Dunblane High School, Dunblane 

Dunoon Grammar School, Argyll 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

Financial Donors in the period 

31 Jan 04 - 1 Feb 05: 

Accenture Foundation 

Lord Archer 

Dr Ian Ashwell 

Mr Brian Bardrick 

Mr JFT & Mrs A Bayliss 

Lady Bishop 

Mr Justin Brooke 

FM Sir John Chapple 

Mrs Sarah Christie 

Mr Michael Cooper 

Augustine Courtauld Trust 

Andrew Croft Memorial Fund 

Lady Cullen Endowment Fund 

Deutsche Bank 

Maj Anthony Evans 

Dr Joseph Footitt 

French Huguenot Church of London 

Charitable Trust 

Mr Sean Furey 

Mr Barrie Gane 

Sandy & Zorica Glen Charitable Settlement 

Mr CAE Goodhart 

Mr and Mrs SE Greenway 

Jonathan Hartley Memorial Fund 

David Haydock Trust 

Haymills Charitable Trust 

Hedley Foundation 

Hetherington & Walker Memorial Trust 

Miss Rachel Howell 

Miss Abigail Huntington 

Inchcape Foundation 

Maj Gen Brian Irwin 

Lady Johnston of Rockport 

Mr John Gwynn Jones 

Mr Ian Kay 

Key Travel 

Mr JW Kinnaird 

Eton College, Windsor 

Exeter School, Exeter 

Gorseinon College, Swansea 

Guildford High School, Guildford 

King Edward VI College, Stourbridge 

Marlborough College, Marlborough 

Mary Hare Grammar School, Newbury 

We offer our thanks to all those who help make BSES expeditions possible for the self-development 

of young people, particularly those who helped us for the 2004 expeditions: 

Sir James Knott Trust 

Mr D Laughton 

Dr Phillip Law 

Mr James Lingard 

Mr David Lloyd 

Mrs Fiona Lovatt 

MacRobert Trust 

Mr Alan Mainwaring 

Miss Katie Marwick 

Dr Stuart Martin 

Lt Col AF Matheson 

Mr Andrew May 

Mercers' Company 

Alice Mitchell & H Jones 

Miss Sharon Milne 

Ethel & Gwynne Morgan Charitable Trust 

Mrs Frances Morgan 

Lt Col John Muston 

Mr JHM Norris 

Mr Derrick Parkins 

Dr John Payne 

Mr Oliver Peppe 

Air Cdre Graham Pitchfork 

Mr Michael Reeve 

Mr John Roll Pickering 

Lt Col Peter Steer 

Mr Michael St J Sugg 

Ms Liz Symonds 

Mr GRGC Tickler 

Mr Colin Tickner 

Alastair Walker Memorial Trust 

Mrs Diana Walker 

Robert & Elizabeth Ware Trust 

David Warren 

David Wasse 

Peter Whitestone 

Michael David Wood 

Olchfa Comprehensive School, Swansea 

Pate’s Grammer School, Cheltenham 

Queen's Park High School, Chester 

Rendcomb College, Cirencester 

St Catherine's School, Guildford 

Tormead School, Guildford 

Winchester College, Winchester 

And to the following who have so kindly 

supported BSES and individuals in a 

variety of ways: 

Mr Alan Arscott, Generali Portfolio 

Management 

Mr Michael Baggs 

Mr Chris Burns, Cotswold 

CEGA 

Miss Kathleen Davies 

Dr Adrian Dighe 

Major Hugh Drummond & Mr Barry Powell, 

Bramley Training Area 

GE Fulton & Son (Gunsmiths) 

Mr Ted Grey, Young Explorers Trust 

Mr Ted Hatch 

Mr William Chipperfield, Drummonds Branch, 

Royal Bank of Scotland 

Key Travel 

Mr Neil Laughton 

Major General Richard Oliver, Year Out Group 

Dr Mike Ridd 

Professor Jim Ryan 

Dr Martin and Dr Sue Spurling 

Mr Brian Welsby, Be Well Nutritional 

Products 

Mr Aubrey Roberts, Speechly Bircham 

(Solicitors) 

The Royal Geographical Society / Institute of 

British Geographers 

Messrs Ian and Alex Spofforth, Spofforths 

(Auditors) 

Mr Justin Warwick 

Mr Mark Whittingham, Aon (Insurance) 

Andy Woodward, Wear and Tear Repairs 

All those volunteers who interview, serve on 

committees, pack / clean / mend / organise 

expedition equipment, give school 

presentations, represent us at gap-year 

fairs, or help in many other ways. 

23

BSES EXPEDITIONS 2004 ANNUAL REPORT 

BSES EXPEDITIONS 

AT THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY 

1 KENSINGTON GORE 

LONDON SW7 2AR 

TEL: 0207 591 3141 

EMAIL: INFO@BSES.ORG.UK 

INTERNET: WWW.BSES.ORG.UK 

REGISTERED CHARITY 802196 




THE BRITISH SCHOOLS EXPLORING SOCIETY 

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