In support of the Royal Geographical Society’s polar heritage and education programme, British businessman Simon Murray (63) and ground-breaking explorer Pen Hadow (41) are attempting the unsupported trek from the edge of continental Antarctica - Hercules Inlet - to the South Pole to raise funds for, and enable worldwide access to, the Royal Geographical Society’s polar heritage collection.

The Royal Geographical Society is engaging in a £7.2 million project with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund to build new exhibition and educational facilities at its Kensington headquarters that will be open to the public from June 2004.