I Became A Fellow
“There is a tide in the affairs of men,
which taken at the flood,
leads on to fortune.
Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat.”
Author
Explore ’97 was a gathering where explorers, scientists, adventurers, and researchers came together to share their experiences, present their fieldwork projects, and discuss various topics related to geography, exploration, and scientific discovery. The event provided a platform for individuals to network, collaborate, and learn from one another in the field of geographical exploration….and I loved it!
The RGS
I had been planning for some time to walk around the world. Spurred on by Chris Bonnington and Benedict Allen, who had been all over the TV, these notions coalesced whilst I recovered from having my jaw broken. I determined this was a surefire way of doing ‘something’ with my life.
To some degree, I do still consider great travel-based adventures as priceless opportunities to meet new people and discover (at least on a personal level) new places.
With ‘Walk the World’ being planned by me in meticulous detail, I had been put in touch with the Royal Geographical Society, most probably by Rainforest Concern or Survival, whose work I wanted to highlight as I travelled.
I recall visiting and being encouraged to ‘look around’. It was incredible; the building at Kensington Gore was full of back stairways, dusty globes, the most beautiful black and white photographs and paintings on the wall, leading rooms, and a map room. For me, at least, the two best places on earth; were the Expedition Advisory Centre (EAC) and the Lecture Hall, where, every Monday, the most extraordinary and inspirational people continue to come to talk about their journeys.
On that first visit, I was introduced to Susan Gardner, the Director, and a wonderfully encouraging person, Shane Winser, who headed up the EAC, this incredible recourse and networking hub.
Shane suggested that if I attend ‘Explore ’97’ ( A kind of explorers convention), it might help prepare for the expedition and enable me to meet more folks in the field. I talked an old chum, Mr Tom Fry, into joining me since he worked with Caritas Data and was well clued up in grant and trust fundraising. Essential for something which I hoped would have a big impact.
Explore ’97
The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) Explore ’97 was an annual expedition and fieldwork planning weekend organized by the Royal Geographical Society in London.
Explore ’97 was a gathering where explorers, scientists, adventurers, and researchers came together to share their experiences, present their fieldwork projects, and discuss various topics related to geography, exploration, and scientific discovery. The event provided a platform for individuals to network, collaborate, and learn from one another in the field of geographical exploration….and I loved it!
Essentially there were two groups of people, those dressed in semi-casual outdoor wear, trousers with lots of zips and pockets, and those who wore tweed jackets and corduroy trousers!
Not long, after I was made a Fellow of the RGS.
(Copyright: Laurie Andrews 1999)
The best lecture I attended that weekend was one which focussed on ‘Field First Aid and Medicine’, learning about the risks of Malaria and Dengue Fever, the problems of biting ants and some specific types of fish which can swim undetected up the urethra resulting in agonising Urethritis and infection. It was all the good stuff adventures are made of. In truth, the more information was thrown at us about the pitfalls (some quite literally) of going on an expedition, the more I wanted to do it!
At the back end of the Explore event, and having rubbed shoulders with some serious childhood heroes, including Peter Duncan, and Michael Palin, I was having an excellent conversation with a bespectacled chap whose name escapes me (most probably a Demi-God in the field of geography) about refugees, asylum seekers and my plan to walk around the world.
After about 45 minutes of learning about each other, he suggested I become a Fellow.
I recall my mother being incredibly proud.
Monday Night Lectures
The Monday night lectures at the RGS featured presentations by prominent geographers, explorers, scientists, and researchers from various fields. These talks covered subjects such as environmental studies, climate change, human geography, cartography, geopolitics, conservation, and exploration of different regions around the world. The lectures provided a platform for experts to share their findings, experiences, and insights, stimulating discussions and raising awareness about important geographical issues.
It was beautifully old and a little uncomfortable when I first started going. Speakers would have to shout ‘Slide!’ for the picture behind them to change, and occasionally, if I was lucky, the person in the projector booth might have gone to the loo or dozed off.
The speaker would have to repeat their appeal, shouting ‘Slide!’ ‘Slide!’ ‘Slide!’, ultimately the slide would indeed change, and there might be a spontaneous round of applause, which always made me laugh a lot!
Those days are long gone. The lecture hall was modernized about ten years ago. It benefited from an integrated lectern where speakers only had to press a button, madonna-style microphones which stay by the speaker as they walk.
It was sleeker and more professional, but something had been lost in my mind.
About Rev Lloyd Hobbard-Mitchell
Rev. Lloyd Hobbard-Mitchell, an Englishman deeply connected to Thailand, was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on 28th May 2023.
In addition to his religious journey, he has worked as an online English teacher and pursued a career as an artist. He has also operated a tour desk business with his wife within international brand hotels.
Lloyd has extensive experience in the voluntary sector, specifically in addressing homelessness and social welfare.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and embraces opportunities to meet new people, see new places, explore cultural similarities, and celebrate differences.
