From Falmouth to North Devon and the North Pole…

A blog post from Tamsin Loveless, Head of Communications, National Maritime Museum Cornwall

It all started with a phone call from the desks of the Maritime Museum, that turned into an email, which evolved into a ‘wish’ list which delivered a trip to North Devon to meet the first man to reach the North Pole unassisted.

And, this has now resulted in some amazing new objects telling the story of the first solo expedition, unassisted, to the North Pole, being added to National Maritime Museum Cornwall’s On Thin Ice exhibition which opens on 8 April.

Pen Hadow rose to international fame in 2003 when, after fifteen years of unrelenting effort, he finally achieved his goal to become the first person to trek solo, without resupply, from Canada to the North Geographic Pole – a feat thought comparable to making the first ascent of Everest, solo and without oxygen, and one which has not been repeated since. Within months, he went on to become the only Briton to have trekked, without resupply, to both the North and South Poles.

Hardened Arctic and Antarctic Explorer he certainly is but you can also add generous, trusting and inspiring to a long list of personality traits as Pen opened up his Polar world to the Museum.

Ben Lumby, the Museum’s Exhibition Manager, and Pen went through what I can only describe as time capsules of Polar heritage. Basically big blue bins labelled ‘North Pole’ containing every item that Pen has taken on his incredible pioneering adventure.

Everything from pants to Polar Bear warning systems, cooking gear to clothing and sub-zero equipment to sledges was laid before us and will soon be on display in the Museum’s new On Thin Ice: Pioneers of Polar Exploration exhibition opening on 8 April, showing you what it takes to reach the North Pole.

So, this was our Friday. Journeying to the North Pole with an iconic polar explorer – just without the polar weather systems, although North Devon was a bit parky that day.