Dale explorer hopes to be a polar pioneer once more, Teesdale Mercury

AN explorer from Barnard Castle will attempt to be the first person to walk to the South Pole using only renewable energy – his “hardest” challenge yet.

On January 11, 1986, Robert Swan followed in the footsteps of Captain Scott and arrived at the South Pole. 

Swan’s 900-mile journey across the treacherous Antarctic ice cap stands as the longest unassisted walk ever made.

Now aged 54, he is planning to do it all again. But this time, he is taking part in the epic adventure to prove that mankind can survive on renewable energy.

There will be no fossil-fuelled stoves for hot drinks or any other similar tools.

Instead, Swan will be using state-of-the-art green technology, which he believes will be part of the answer to beating climate change.

And he is urging other Teesdale residents to also do their bit.

Swan said: “People talk about saving the planet, but the planet will look 

after itself. It’s our participation 

that’s in question; how we make energy, save energy and use renewable energy.

“My question to the readers of the Teesdale Mercury is, ‘How are you responding to that challenge?’ Are you saving energy or putting up a solar panel if you can afford it?

“My response to that challenge is to be making this journey across Antarctica. It’s going to be extremely tough and will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. We won’t have a fossil fuel stove that can blast out heat – I want to show people that if renewable energy can work at minus 50 then it can work in Barnard Castle, or wherever.”

Swan, who was the first man to walk to both the North and South poles, was brought up in Barnard Castle but now lives on Stainmore.

He has become a leading global environmentalist and has set up an organisation, called 2041, in an effort to save Antarctica.

Last week, Swan was made an honorary doctor of science at Durham University, where he studied an ancient history degree.

He said: “The interesting thing is that I studied history at Durham but have received an honorary degree in science. 

“That’s fantastic because it’s recognising my work and environmental issues.

“It’s also extremely good for someone like myself, who isn’t very establishment, to be honoured. It’s like saying to young people that you don’t have to take the usual route in life.”

Swan took time out from his globetrotting last week to catch up with his 95-year-old mother, Margaret, who lives in Wycliffe.

“It’s a very special thing for her to see her youngest son, who has always been a bit out there, to get this honour,” Swan said.

His interest in polar exploration began aged 11 when he read about the race to the South Pole between Scott and Roald Amundsen. Swan then dreamt about retracing their steps.

He said: “It doesn’t feel like 25 years ago that I did it – life goes quickly and one has to get a good hold of it.”

Making last week’s presentation, Professor Stuart Lane, from Durham University, read out a list of Swan’s honours.

They included receiving the Polar Medal and OBE from the Queen, becoming a United Nations Environment Programme Ambassador of Goodwill, winning a United Nations Global Award, and being named a Special Envoy of the Director General of UNESCO.

But Swan now has his eyes on a different prize. And he promised to keep Mercury readers informed of the latest South Pole expedition, which will take place in December 2011.

The explorer explained that his motto was “think globally and act locally”.

Seconds before the interview ended, he stayed true to that belief.

“Can you call my mum to let her known when the article will appear?” he asked the Mercury. “She gets it every week and will be so proud to see her son in the paper.”

l To find out more about Robert Swan’s work, visit www.2041.com