Absolute Speakers / After Dinner Speakers / David Hempleman-Adams MBE, OBE

	Tel: 0845 458 2581	David Hempleman-Adams MBE, OBE David Hempleman-Adams was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, in 1956 and educated at Writhlington Comprehensive School. He is a graduate of Manchester, a post-graduate of Bristol and has received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Leicester. He is a director of three companies and a trustee of The Mitchemp Trust and holds over 20 National and International awards. David's interest in expedition began with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, for which he holds a Gold medal. He is an accomplished mountaineer, having climbed the seven highest peaks of the seven continents, i.e. Everest (Nepal), Mt Vinson (Antarctica), Aconcagua (Argentina), Carstenz Pyramid (Indonesia), Elbrus (Russia) and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania). He was a member of the team, which in 1981 achieved one of the fastest ascents of Mt McKinley (Alaska). In 1983 he attempted a solo expedition to the Geographical North Pole. The attempt failed when, after 230 miles, he cracked several ribs and had to watch his food supplies dwindle whilst sitting out a severe ten-day storm. In 1984 he was the first person to successfully complete a solo expedition to the Magnetic North Pole without the support of dogs, snowmobiles or air supplies. Then in 1992 he led the first team to walk unsupported to the Geomagnetic North Pole. On January 5 1996 he became the first Briton to walk solo and unsupported to the South Pole. And later, on February 19, he sailed to the South Magnetic Pole, becoming the first person to achieve both South Poles in the same year. On May 15 1996 he led the Ultimate Challenge, a team of novices, to ski to the Magnetic North Pole, gaining some notable firsts. Thus, he became the only person ever to reach both North and South Magnetic Poles in one year. In early March 1998 David set off on a 600-mile journey, which would place him in the record books as one of the most successful all-round adventurers the world has ever seen. Facing wind-chill down to minus 90 centigrade, he man-hauled his sledge to the North Pole across the constantly shifting ice of the frozen Arctic Ocean. His success ended a 15-year odyssey and placed him in the history record books as the first person to complete the Explorers' Grand Slam, a challenge which has seen him conquer the North and South Magnetic Poles, become the first Briton to walk solo and unsupported to the South Pole; and walk solo to the North Geographic Pole and scale the highest mountain in each of the seven continents, including Everest. In 1998 David Hempleman-Adams turned to ballooning. In December, with only 30 hours of flying experience, David flew across the Andes. He took off in the Typhoo Challenger hot air balloon, with open wicker basket, from a polo field in Chile. The balloon rose to more than 32,000 ft before catching westerly winds that blew it across the inhospitable craggy peaks into Argentina - the total journey lasted 5 hours. On 1 June 2000 David became the only pilot to fly a balloon to the North Pole. He set a number of ballooning records, including longest solo flight by a British balloonist at 132 hours; distance record for the Arctic at 1400 kms to the North Pole ring and 2451 km total; first balloonist to fly solo to the North Pole and first balloonist to fly solo across the Arctic Ocean. An attempt had been made in 1897 to reach the North Pole by the Swedish explorer Salomon AndrŽe but it ended in disaster when the balloon was forced to crash land on the ice. After his own terrifying landing on the ice, David said, "In a lifetime of adventure, I've never known such an experience. If I had known what I was going to put myself through before embarking on this trip, I might have thought twice about it." On April 6th 2003, David became the first person to ski, solo and unsupported to the Geomagnetic North Pole. The daring journey involved dragging a Kevlar sledge, weighed down with over 100 lbs of equipment and supplies, for nearly 300 miles. David had to use all his mountaineering skills to climb and abseil the hazardous icy terrain. With this, his latest success in a long line of record achievements, he marked the 20th Anniversary of his exploring career. As far as solo Arctic expeditions are concerned, I think I have reached the age where I should hand over to the younger generation David announced on completion. David Hempleman-Adams has over ten honours and awards for his adventures.

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