100 years ago today, Captain Scott and his team reached the South Pole. As everyone knows, they were beaten to the prize by a mere five weeks by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen and perished on the return journey.
Scott (centre) and his men at the South Pole, 17th January 1912
Much has been written about Scott over the years, not all of it positive, but in my mind he was quite simply the greatest Antarctic explorer who ever lived. Not only did his expeditions reveal more about Antarctica than any scientific work before or since, but Scott's bravery, selfless leadership and quest for knowledge have inspired many from these small islands to push the boundaries of exploration and discovery.
I learnt about the adventures of Captain Scott as a seven year old boy, courtesy of a tattered old Ladybird storybook, and was blown away by what I read. Ever since then, Captain Scott has been my inspiration. Had it not been for him, my life would probably have followed an altogether different and far less fulfilling path. I owe him an enormous debt of gratitude.