He has trekked thousands of kilometres across the polar regions and has stood on the Geographical North Pole a total of 10 times.
Charlie Paton is known for his exploits, professionalism and willingness to share his passion and knowledge with others. Charlie’s years of service in the Royal Marines gave him experience and expertise in all corners of the globe. In May 2000 Charlie along with Alan Chambers succeeded in becoming the first Britons to walk unsupported from the Canadian coastline to the Geographical North Pole (Team Polar 2000). Charlie’s Polar training experience ranges from Norway, the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, Canadian High Arctic, Spitsbergen, Iceland, South Georgia and Antarctica.
Patron of the expedition
“In 1914 one of the most unique leaders of men the world has ever seen, Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, dreamed to undertake the immense challenge of being the first person to cross the little-known Antarctic continent from coast to coast (via the Geographical South Pole). He called his expedition the ‘Imperial Trans Antarctic Expedition’. Alas his brave endeavour failed but what a glorious failure it was! I’m delighted that Charlie Paton has chosen to honour Shackleton’s heroic efforts, one hundred years on. Charlie has considerable knowledge of and experience in the polar environment. I have no doubt that he has more than what it takes to tackle the Solo Across Antarctica expedition. More significantly, perhaps, I have every confidence that his brave example will inspire the young people of today to chase after adventure and believe in the impossible. I am pleased to be Patron of Charlie’s extraordinary expedition and wish him God speed and a safe return.”
Patron of the expedition
“Jonathan is cousin of the Irish, Kildare born explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. A graduate of Trinity College, Dublin and The University of Ohio, he has been involved in many Shackleton-oriented activities including films, TV documentaries and radio interviews world wide, and is co-author with John MacKenna of Shackleton: An Irishman in Antarctica. An excerpt from this book illustrates the immensity of Shackleton’s achievement. ‘Eighty years after Ernest Shackleton’s death, his legend and the extraordinary story of the Endurance South Pole expedition still hold a grip on the public imagination.Trapped in drifting polar pack-ice for ten months, Ernest Shackleton and his crew fought for survival against all the odds. When their ship, the Endurance, was finally crushed, they were stranded on ice floes for more than a year before reaching Elephant Island. From there Shackleton and five of his men embarked on the most remarkable rescue mission in maritime history, sailing in a small open boat to South Georgia Island across eight hundred miles of the world’s roughest seas to bring help to the others… Shackleton’s story lives on because of his unique qualities of leadership and the extraordinary fact that all of his men survived.’ We are honoured to have another living link with Polar exploratory history with the patronage of Jonathan Shackleton. ‘My cousin’s audacity and courage, persistence and great vision continue to inspire me nearly a hundred years after his poignant death.It is also very moving to know that his expeditions are still inspiring others to attempt to reach the most extreme Polar Regions. I am therefore pleased to be able to endorse the Solo Across Antarctica expedition as patron and friend.”