Sir Ranulph Fiennes: One giant leap

Travel Talk

Sir Ranulph Fiennes is an inveterate explorer. First man to reach both poles by surface travel, and – in 2008 – the oldest Briton to reach the Summit of Everest. Here he tells travel writer and author Jennifer Cox, on behalf of luxury tailormade specialist Cox & Kings, why an afternoon tea in Sussex was possibly the most important journey of all.

My most memorable journey, and the one that had the most impact on my life, occurred when I was only 12 years old. It was a voyage that took me not only from one continent (Africa) to another (Europe), but from the care free childhood of a white boy in 1940s South Africa to an England still recovering from the Second World War.

My father was killed fighting in Italy before I was born and when my grandmother died in 1950, my mother took me and my sister back to England. We found a house which was quite comfortable once we’d chased the turkeys out of the dining room. It had a well that had been a place of pilgrimage since Chaucer’s time. Gradually we got used to the green of the Sussex countryside and began to make friends. One day we were invited to tea by another family with children, so my mother lined us up to make sure we were clean and tidy: “You must put shoes on, Ranulph. People don’t expect visitors with bare feet.”

She then took us outside and pointed over the wood towards the village: “Go through the trees and it’s the first house on the right.”

My Heroes by Ranulph Fiennes So off we went, very unhappy at the thought of a) having to wear shoes and b) having to be polite to new children who were bound to be stupid and boring and laugh at our South African accents. When we arrived we were given orange squash to drink, another oddity for us used to proper, fresh fruit juice. Then we went to play with the boy’s elaborate electric train set in the attic. That was very enjoyable except for the attentions of an extremely irritating nine year old girl called Virginia. When we sat down to tea the irritating girl seemed to have disappeared, but I was very embarrassed to feel as if a pin was being stuck repeatedly into my leg. Was this some terrible English insect we hadn’t been told about, or perhaps the strange orange squash was having an awful effect on my skin?

When I looked under the table, there was Virginia methodically loading a toy cannon which fired pins into my leg. As she crawled out I told her to stop, but she just screwed up her nose and went back under the table. Before she disappeared I did notice her eyes were an amazing blue, almost violet.

Four years later I was bold enough to ask her out. Twelve years later I asked her to marry me. So if I’d never left the Valley of the Vines in the shadow of Table Mountain, my life might have been very different.

Cox & Kings offers luxury tailor-made holidays.

 

120 people found this helpful
17668

Share Article:

Silver Travel Advisor

Leave a comment

*

Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest travel tips on top destinations.

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Most Recent Articles

There’s something refreshingly nostalgic about the quintessential British coach holiday….

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.