麻豆约拍

Virginia Fiennes, first wife of explorer Sir Ranulph, is remembered by friends and family, and through the recordings she kept during the expedition that made her husband famous.

She sat alone for months in a 10 foot hut under the snow, with only her dog, Bothie, for company.
For much of the duration of her husband's Transglobe expedition, the first circumpolar journey from pole to pole, Ginny Fiennes recorded the strange ethereal sounds coming in from Newfoundland.

However, as Base Commander and radio operator for the expedition, she communicated with Ranulph and his team out on the ice, relaying news from the world, updating sponsors at home of their progress and always listening out for mayday signals.

The recordings she made during that three year expedition have never been heard. Now, ten years after her death, Sir Ranulph listens to them for the first time.

Producer: Emma Colman
A Kati Whitaker production for 麻豆约拍 Radio 4.