W hen Miss Woolley asked our Geography set, back in October, if anyone would be interested in interviewing Sir Ranulph Fiennes, as a film enthusiast, I was immediately interested. She agreed and I could not believe my luck as I was due to interview an actor who had been in Schindler’s List , The English Patient and The End of the Affair , just to name a few. What a brilliant opportunity this was. It will come as no surprise to those of you now reading my article that Ranulph and Ralph Fiennes are completely different human beings. But I was rather bemused when I heard the interview would be primarily based on his new book, Cold , detailing his Arctic adventures. Most actors do however indulge in philanthropy, so I figured the Arctic expedition was a one off. I only realised my full error when later that evening I entered into Google ‘Ranulph Fiennes’ and saw in the drop-down suggestion box Ranulph Fiennes SAS, Ranulph Fiennes Killer Elite and Ranulph Fiennes frostbite fingers. When I searched for him under images, rather than the Hollywood star, I saw a rugged man with a grizzly beard and a number of photos of amputated fingers. I was however not disappointed, I might hasten to add; rather more intrigued. I proceeded to read a great deal about the man over the coming weeks, to the detriment of my studies, no doubt. This was, however, a fine price to pay as Ranulph Fiennes, ‘the greatest living explorer’ – as the Guinness Book of Records calls him – has lived a most incredible life. Fiennes was born shortly after the death of his father, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, in 1944, in Berkshire. After the war his family moved to South Africa where Ranulph remained until he was twelve years old. At which point his mother sent him to an altogether more dangerous and less forgiving place than Africa: Eton College. Fiennes followed in his father’s footsteps after school, joining his regiment in the British Army, The Royal Scots Greys. He served in the army for eight years, became a demolitions expert for the SAS and even fought against a communist insurgency for the Sultanate of Oman in the 1970s. Fiennes’ great passion, however, would prove to be exploration and adventure, something we discussed at length during the interview.
The interview itself was scheduled for Thursday 7th November. My co-interviewer was the renowned BBC broadcaster Justin Webb. Though it was daunting sharing the afternoon on stage in front of some 400 members of the audience, Webb was welcoming and invaluable in making the show run smoothly. Fiennes proved to be exactly as I expected: quick-witted and with a certain charm, but nonetheless reserved and reticent. For a man of 69, I was struck by his physical presence and sharp mind. Our first interaction was a handshake (unfortunately not with his infamous left hand) that helped me gauge the man. He was very polite, but I must emphasise he was also stern and serious. Once the microphones were set up, the hall full and the book stand stacked high with copies of his new book, the interview began with a brief but smooth address and introduction to the afternoon from the Geography Society’s esteemed presidents Joseph Howe and John Reed, who essentially listed Ranulph’s greatest achievements and set the tone for the talk – adventure. Justin dominated the first section of the interview, which was effectively an improvised conversation in which he asked Sir Ranulph about some aspects of his new book, Cold . Afterwards I had an opportunity to ask questions which boys had requested. Ranulph somehow simultaneously played down his achievements (which are extensive) whilst also engaging and exciting the crowd with details of his exploits, from his marathon running to his cancer-research-fundraising solo and unsupported walk to the North Pole, which resulted in frostbite and subsequent self-amputation of fingers from his left hand. We talked a good deal about this incident and though it may seem a trivial, gruesome episode, it really did illustrate Sir Ranulph’s character; no nonsense, impatient and daring, yet calculated. It was an incredible experience to meet the man and I’m grateful to Mr Fletcher and Miss Woolley for organising the event in conjunction with Dulwich Books and the publisher Simon & Schuster. Sir Ranulph signed a copy of Cold for me that I have read and passed on to my brother, who too has read it and passed it on. Cold really is a fantastic book and I recommend it as summer reading to help you appreciate the mild, English weather.
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