31 august 2017 oxfordshire guardian didcot

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Out& About GROUP

tyweekly.co.uk www.oxfordproper Thursday, August 31

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Your guide for your leisure time in & around Oxfordshire

Wry war-time tales from the Somme

Satirical play The Times comes to Wiper’s Oxford

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view the property details, of Davis Tate Wallingford. To This property showcased courtesy

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Solving the mys tery of Agatha Christie Museum looks at her life and work

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Flying Scotsman steams into railway centre

Six appeal for United in cup competition

Pages 8&9

Sport

Adventurer’s solo skiing o trek to –40 c South Pole By George Welch AN intrepid former soldier will battle snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures in a bid to break the record for the quickest person to ski solo to the South Pole. James Redden, from Thame, will embark on the unsupported and unaided 700-mile escapade to the Earth’s southernmost point in December. The ex-soldier and IT consultant accepted a challenge thrown down by the current world record holder, Norway’s Christian Eide, to beat his journey time of 24 days, 1 hour and 13 minutes, set in January 2011. James will contend with temperatures of -40c and wind speeds of up to 80mph when he sets off from Hercules Inlet, a large, narrow, icefi lled inlet on the southwestern margin of the Ronne Ice Shelf. The 46-year-old will endure an average of 12 hours of skiing a day, burning around 6,000 calories – about the equivalent of 24 Big Macs – in the process. The father-of-two, who’s also taking on the challenge to raise awareness and funds for charities Meningitis Now and Soundabout, which helps disabled people through music, said he

is expecting a ‘long and lonely’ journey. He said: “There will be no re-supplies and no equipment like snow scooters but the beauty of the polar landscape and the good causes inspiring me will drive me forward.” Adventurer James is no stranger to mental and physical challenges having already ventured through the jungles of South East Asia, through the Sahara desert, along the African continent and into South America. He’s also skied large distances across Norway and in April last year skied to the North Pole. But that doesn’t make his latest quest any less daunting. James, who will tow all his own food and equipment in a pulk, added: “The journey will be brutal and includes a climb from sea level to about 3,000 metres. “Currently only 26 people in the world have taken on this challenging adventure where temperatures can dip as low as minus 40c with wind speeds of up to 80mph.” The charities will launch a competition to design a flag, which will be flown out for James to unfurl when he reaches his icy destination. James chose the charities to support a friend whose son had meningitis and is living with the after-effects. Visit tinyurl.com/y9kv74fp to donate.

Wish you were her e...

The map shows

James Redden’s

route across th

e South Pole


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