Adventurers welcomed back to Twyford School (From Hampshire Chronicle)
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Adventurers welcomed back to Twyford School
4:50pm Tuesday 17th May 2011 in Education
Twyford School 'old boys' Myles Osborne (left) and Ed Parker with current pupils after visiting the school to talk about rescues on Mount Everest and treks to the North Pole.
TWYFORD School welcomed back two ‘old boys’ who have been to the ends of the Earth in the name of adventure.
Ed Parker, who was at the school in the mid-1970s, and Myles Osborne, who attended about 15 years later, both came to share their stories.
The latter was ascending Mount Everest in 2006, trying to raise money for Naomi House Children’s Hospice at Sutton Scotney.
Towards the summit, his party found a stranded Australian climber, and saved his life by bringing him down the mountain.
He was later reunited with his family, who had been left to fear the worst and received reports that he was dead.
Mr Parker then took the stage and talked about leading a group of wounded servicemen to the North Pole.
He served with the Royal Green Jackets in Northern Ireland. He then founded the charity Walking With The Wounded after his nephew lost both legs while serving in Afghanistan.
The North Pole party included two amputees, a soldier with a paralysed arm and another with a broken back.
Temperatures approached -40c and they had to avoid ice flows, polar bears, but they reached their goal last month (April) on Easter Saturday.
They trekked nearly 200 miles dragging 100kg sledges and, in the process, become the first amputee team to reach the pole unsupported.
Visit www.walkingwiththewounded.org.uk for more information about the charity.
