Polar trekker tells of dream (From Stroud News and Journal)

Polar trekker tells of dream

IF you have a dream, follow it.

That was the message of polar adventurer Tom Avery when he came to talk about his trekking experiences to students at Wycliffe College on Friday. Two years ago Tom was part of a record-breaking journey to the South Pole.

"It had been something I'd wanted to do since I was seven and read about Captain Scott," he said.

"The essence of my talk is just to say whatever you want to do in this life just go for it and don't worry about what other people think of your idea.

"Just go for it and nothing is impossible." While Tom did achieve his own dream it was not everything he had expected.

"I had this romantic idea of what the South Pole would be like," he said. "When I got there we found a whopping great building site where the Americans are putting up a science centre.

"Two or three miles out we started finding bits of rubbish. "There were lumps of wood and disgarded weather balloons, it was quite tragic really. "The most remote part of the earth and it has been ruined in this way."

Nevertheless the trek was more than worthwhile and the sense of achievment was incredible.

"It was the culmination of 20 years' day dreams and two years of hard work planning and trying to get the sponsorship," said Tom.

He was also promoting his book, Pole Dance, about the expedition. His message to the students was simple.

"If you've got something you really want to do, get on with it and don't let anything stop you," he said. "Don't say, I'll do that one day, do it now."