Centres in Action

Falkirk

Chairman: Mr E Shanks MInstTA
Secretary: Mrs M. Struthers FlnstTA

Picture of some of the Falkirk Centre members taken at the AGM at the beginning of April 2008.

(Photograph courtesy of Ronnie Blackadder, third from the left)

Notes:

Chair: Eric Shanks MInstTA

Secretary: Margaret Struthers FInstTA.

‘Dunbeg’ Aultbeag Road, Grandtully,

Aberfeldy, Perthshire, PH15 2QT

Tel: 01887 840339

e-mail: Margaret@struthers5059.fsnet.co.uk

Scottish liaison officer

Ian Johnson FInstTA

127 South Gyle Wynd

Edinburgh, EH12 9EX

Tel. work: 01310657 0010

Tel. home: 0131 334 4103

Tel. Mob: 07914937443

e-mail: ian625johnson@btinternet.com

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Joint Meeting of Falkirk and Edinburgh Centres

At a joint meeting of Falkirk and Edinburgh Centres, held in the Cladhan Hotel, Falkirk, a group of over 30, which included members, with partners and friends, and guests from I.R.T.E., were privileged to listen to a lecture from Craig Mathieson, on his trek to the South Pole in 2004.

Craig described in detail and illustrated clearly through the use of explicit overhead slides, the numerous hardships he had to overcome to achieve his goal. These ranged from drastic weight loss, frozen eyes, to mental and physical exhaustion and ultimately having to resort to personally cutting off parts of his own toes.

For almost an hour Craig held his audience’s complete attention, before handing over to his younger companion Christopher Struthers (16 yrs), whom he had chosen to include on his most recent Polar Expedition to the North Pole.

Christopher then presented an account of his experience of being part of a Polar Expedition, and finally planting the Scottish Geographical Society’s flag at the North Pole, prior to asking for ‘Any Questions’ from the audience.

As that proved to be the first presentation Christopher had ever given, the IoTA can claim to be the ‘guinea pigs’ for what might hopefully prove to be a future career.

�

Margaret Struthers FInstTA shown here with Craig Mathieson and her grandson Christopher Struthers

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Tonight we're a bit tired but extremely happy and proud of what we have accomplished.

Craig Mathieson - Principal of the Polar Academy
Nina Alpinice - Guide
Matt Spenceley - Guide
Jon Russill - Guide
&
CHRISTOPHER STRUTHERS - Polar Explorer

CONGRATULATIONS CHRIS FROM ALL AT IoTA

Walking - the oldest known form of transport

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