Ginny Fiennes
Encyclopedia
Virginia Frances "Ginny" Fiennes (properly, Lady Twistleton-Wykeham-Fiennes) (9 July 1947 – 20 February 2004) was a noted explorer and wife of adventurer Ranulph Fiennes
. She was the first woman to be awarded the Polar Medal
, and as such was invited to join the Antarctic Club in recognition of her research work for the British Antarctic Survey
and Sheffield University into very low frequency radio propagation.
for the National Trust for Scotland
. She also trained at the Royal Aircraft Establishment
, Farnborough, took marine radio officer courses and joined the Women’s Royal Army Corps Territorials.
. Three years later she organised the first transnavigation of British Columbia
, entirely by river. In 1972 she was commissioned by Woman's Own
magazine to live for two months with an Oman
i family, and later organised four expeditions with her husband to locate the lost frankincense
city of Ubar in Dhofar
. In 1972 she devised a plan to circumnavigate the world along its polar axis
, and ten years later her Transglobe Expedition
team became the first to reach both poles, to cross Antarctica and the Arctic Ocean, through the North West Passage.
, diagnosed on the day after her husband returned from running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. She died on 20 February 2004, aged 56.
Ranulph Fiennes
Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE , better known as Ranulph Fiennes, is a British adventurer and holder of several endurance records. He is also a prolific writer. Fiennes served in the British Army for eight years including a period on counter-insurgency service while...
. She was the first woman to be awarded the Polar Medal
Polar Medal
The Polar Medal is a medal awarded by the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It was instituted in 1857 as the Arctic Medal and renamed the Polar Medal in 1904.-History:...
, and as such was invited to join the Antarctic Club in recognition of her research work for the British Antarctic Survey
British Antarctic Survey
The British Antarctic Survey is the United Kingdom's national Antarctic operation and has an active role in Antarctic affairs. BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council and has over 400 staff. It operates five research stations, two ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica....
and Sheffield University into very low frequency radio propagation.
Early life
She was born Virginia Pepper in Godalming, Surrey in 1947. After school she took up deep-sea diving and was recruited to work for two years in Wester RossWester Ross
is a western area of Ross and Cromarty in Scotland, notably containing the villages on the west coast such as:* Lochcarron* Applecross* Shieldaig* Torridon* Kinlochewe * * * Aultbea* Laide* Ullapool* Achiltibuie...
for the National Trust for Scotland
National Trust for Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, commonly known as the National Trust for Scotland describes itself as the conservation charity that protects and promotes Scotland's natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to...
. She also trained at the Royal Aircraft Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
, Farnborough, took marine radio officer courses and joined the Women’s Royal Army Corps Territorials.
Career
In 1968 she organised the first ascent of the longest river in the world, the River Nile, by prototype hovercraftHovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
. Three years later she organised the first transnavigation of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, entirely by river. In 1972 she was commissioned by Woman's Own
Woman's Own
Woman's Own is a British lifestyle magazine aimed at women.Woman's Own was first published in 1932. It is one of the UK's most famous women's magazines and is published by IPC Media....
magazine to live for two months with an Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
i family, and later organised four expeditions with her husband to locate the lost frankincense
Frankincense
Frankincense, also called olibanum , is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, particularly Boswellia sacra, B. carteri, B. thurifera, B. frereana, and B. bhaw-dajiana...
city of Ubar in Dhofar
Dhofar
The Dhofar region lies in Southern Oman, on the eastern border with Yemen. Its mountainous area covers and has a population of 215,960 as of the 2003 census. The largest town in the region is Salalah. Historically, it was the chief source of frankincense in the world. However, its frankincense...
. In 1972 she devised a plan to circumnavigate the world along its polar axis
Circumpolar
The term circumpolar may refer to:* circumpolar navigation: to travel the world "vertically" traversing both of the poles* Antarctic region** Antarctic Circle** the Antarctic Circumpolar Current** Subantarctic** List of Antarctic and subantarctic islands...
, and ten years later her Transglobe Expedition
Transglobe Expedition
In 1979, adventurers Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Charles R. Burton set out to make the first circumpolar navigation, traveling the world "vertically" traversing both of the poles. Starting from Greenwich in the United Kingdom, they went south, arriving at the South Pole on December 17, 1980. Over the...
team became the first to reach both poles, to cross Antarctica and the Arctic Ocean, through the North West Passage.
Family life
In the 1980s she moved to Exmoor National Park and began to raise a herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle and a flock of black Welsh Mountain sheep, becoming a highly proficient hill farmer on one of the highest working farms in the South West. In November 2003 she was found to be suffering from stomach cancerStomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
, diagnosed on the day after her husband returned from running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. She died on 20 February 2004, aged 56.