Did you know that one of our own OHs played a pivotal role in launching the careers of Scott and Shackleton?

We are thrilled to announce an upcoming interview with historian Dr Ed Armston-Sheret about his new book, The Grip of the Ice. The book explores Britain’s first Antarctic expedition. This Discovery voyage set the stage for everything that followed, but it also shines a light on a forgotten inspirational figure from our own community: Cyril Longhurst.

A former pupil of Allhallows School in the late 19th century, Cyril never set foot in Antarctica. Yet, working from London, he was the administrative backbone of the expedition, coordinating logistics while Scott sailed south. He was also instrumental in founding the early days of the Old Honitonians Club.

Stay tuned! We will be sharing the full interview with Ed very soon. In the meantime, you can find out more about The Grip of the Ice and purchase a copy here.