Fiennes, Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-
Fiennes, Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-
3rd Bt cr 1916; OBE 1993
Born 7 March 1944; s of Lieut-Col Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, DSO, 2nd Bt (died of wounds, 1943) and Audrey Joan (d 2004), yr d of Sir Percy Newson, 1st Bt; m 1st, 1970, Virginia Pepper (d 2004) (first female member of Antarctic Club, 1985; first woman to be awarded Polar Medal, 1987); 2nd, 2005, Louise Millington; one d
Succession
S father, 1944
Education
Eton
Career
Liveryman, Vintners’ Company, 1960. French Parachutist Wings, 1965. Lieut, Royal Scots Greys, 1966, Captain 1968 (retd 1970). Attached 22 SAS Regt, 1966, Sultan of Muscat’s Armed Forces, 1968 (Dhofar Campaign Medal, 1969; Sultan’s Bravery Medal, 1970). T&AVR 1971, Captain RAC. Leader of British expeditions: White Nile, 1969; Jostedalsbre Glacier, 1970; Headless Valley, BC, 1971; (Towards) North Pole, 1977; (with Charles Burton) Transglobe (first surface journey around the world’s polar axis), 1979–82, reached South Pole, 15 Dec. 1980, reached North Pole, 11 April 1982 (first man in history to reach both Poles by surface travel); North Polar Unsupported Expeditions: reached 84°48´N on 16 April 1986; reached 88°58´N on 14 April 1990 (Furthest North Unsupported record); (with Dr Mike Stroud) South Polar Unsupported Expedition: first crossing of Antarctic Continent and longest unsupported polar journey in history (1,345 miles), 1992–93; (with Dr Mike Stroud) Land Rover 7x7x7 Challenge (7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents), 2003; climbed North Face of Eiger, 2007; climbed Everest, 2009 (first OAP to scale highest summit, and first human to scale Everest and cross both icecaps). Life Mem., Highland Soc. of London, 2010. FRGS 1970; Fellow, British Exploring Soc., 2018. Hon. MRIN 1997. Hon. Fellow, Univ. of Glamorgan, 2012. Hon. DSc: Loughborough, 1986; Portsmouth, 2000; Sheffield, 2005; Abertay Dundee, 2007; Plymouth, 2011; DUniv Birmingham, 1995; Hon. DLitt Glasgow Caledonian, 2002. Inst. of Navigation Award, 1977; Guinness Book of Records World Hall of Fame, World’s Greatest Living Explorer award, 1984. Livingstone Gold Medal, RSGS, 1983; Explorers’ Club of New York Medal (and Hon. Life Membership), 1983; Founder’s Medal, RGS, 1984; Polar Medal, 1987, clasp 1995; ITN Award, for the Event of the Decade, 1990; Millennium Award for Polar Exploration, British Chapter, Explorers’ Club; Oldies of the Year Award, 2004; Great British Sportsman of Year Award, ITV, 2007. Films: (cameraman) To the Ends of the Earth, 1983; (writer) Killer Elite, 2011. Just Giving Award, 2011
Publications
A Talent for Trouble, 1970; Ice Fall in Norway, 1972; The Headless Valley, 1973; Where Soldiers Fear To Tread, 1975; Hell on Ice, 1979; To the Ends of the Earth, 1983; (with Virginia Fiennes) Bothie, the Polar Dog, 1984; Living Dangerously (autobiog.), 1987, rev. and expanded 1994; The Feather Men, 1991; Atlantis of the Sands, 1992; Mind Over Matter, 1993; The Sett, 1996; Fit for Life, 1998; Beyond the Limits, 2000; The Secret Hunters, 2001; Captain Scott, 2003; Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know: the autobiography, 2007; Mad Dogs and Englishmen, 2009; My Heroes, 2011; Cold, 2013; Agincourt: my family, the battle and the fight for France, 2014; Heat, 2015; Fear, 2016
Recreations
langlauf, photography
Heir
none
Clubs
Travellers (Hon. Mem.)
