Arctic Adventures

BBC Presenter delights KS2 pupils with chilling talk!

Forms III to VI were entertained by an interesting and educational talk given by Phil Ashby, series producer and presenter of the BBC’s ’Serious Arctic’ programme where children aged 8-13 battled the elements to reach the North Pole.

Phil’s television career began after he was invalided out of the marines after 12 years in the Arctic Warfare Group and a year in hospital. When not making television programmes, he acts as a mountain guide.

Illustrated with dramatic slides from the series and his other adventures - like climbing a three-mile high mountain in the Andes - Phil made the children realise how cold it is in the frozen wastes of the Arctic with temperatures dropping to -45 degrees. Just touching the tent pole can cause your skin to stick to it and only gentle warming with the cooker will save you.

One of the most dramatic moments for Phil, was waking up in his tent and finding a hungry polar bear, weighing the equivalent of 30 men, in the next compartment with him! Phil’s fears were further raised when he saw ’blood’ around the bear’s mouth and feared his companions had been eaten. It transpired that the bear had raided the stores outside and eaten much of the hot chocolate powder! Flares and shots fired in the air eventually scared away the hungry predator.

The children in the television series travelled across Baffin Island, Canada, on dog sleds pulled by huskies weighing almost as much as a man. The dog team curled up in the snow to sleep each night in freezing temperatures with tails over their noses. By morning there was no sign of any dogs, just mini snow heaps which eventually moved and shook themselves!

Phil answered many questions from the children who thoroughly enjoyed his talk.