Robert Falcon Scott - British Hero or British Bungler ?

Carl Whitmore


Regions:
Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, West Mids, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire
Notice Period:
Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
Type:
Hobby
Fee:
Paid: 50.00 plus 40p per mile travel expenses
Category:
History
Updated:
13th March 2023

Scott of the Antarctic until recent times has always been regarded as a British hero. Has this been the correct view or was his attempt on the pole always doomed to failure because of his own incompetence? This talk explores both sides of the argument and compares his character and methods with his great rival Roald Amundsen, who beat him to the prize.

What was Scott's early naval career like? What was the chance meeting that changed his life forever?

What happened on his first trip to the Antarctic ? Why did he dislike Ernest Shackleton?

What did Robert Peary do that made Amundsen switch his attention from the north pole to the south?

What were Scott's and Amundsen's plans for the attempt on the pole and what were their actual experiences? Why did Amundsen succeed and Scott fail ?

Was Scott's initial image as a hero in the eyes of the British public the correct one or has time been unkind and showed he had fatal flaws as a man and a planner for such an undertaking to succeed?

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About Carl Whitmore

I am a Business Studies graduate who has recently retired from the motor industry who always thought he would have made a good history teacher. I passed on my love of the subject to my daughter and she became one!

Interested in all historical periods I am passionate about ridding the subject of its stuffy image by providing well researched and illustrated Power Point presentations on subjects that provoke discussion and debate, which audience members are encouraged to do.

Always with an eye on bringing history to life, the talks where possible, describe ways more information can be obtained on the subject matter, including museums, tours or immersive experiences.

My talks can be short at 45 minutes but can be increased to an hour or more if required.

For the calculation of travel expenses my home base is in Brackley, post code NN13 .


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