From the back streets of Manchester to the frozen frontiers of Antarctica, Paul’s life has been defined by adventure, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of discovery. With over 30 years of expedition experience, he has travelled across oceans, mountains, deserts, and jungles – often at great personal risk – and has dedicated his life to exploration, education, and science.
Paul’s career has been as eclectic as his adventures. He has served in both the Army and the Royal Navy, working with the Royal Marines and the Parachute Regiment.
After completing his degree in Oceanography, Meteorology and Geology at Plymouth University, Paul joined a four-person crew to deliver a historic wooden sailing vessel from Spain to Norway. The voyage nearly ended in disaster when the yacht began to break apart in heavy seas in the Bay of Biscay – an experience that set the tone for the challenging journeys to come.
In 1991, Paul was part of a small team that completed a four-month, unsupported kayak expedition along Alaska’s ‘Outside Passage.’ This was a journey of wild beauty and extreme danger – from navigating 15-metre ocean swells to close encounters with bears and orcas. At one point, Paul and his team found themselves trapped in the middle of a bubble-net feeding circle of humpback whales, barely escaping as the enormous creatures erupted from the water around them.
Paul’s mountaineering exploits are equally remarkable. In 1994, he and his climbing partner spent 10 days trapped by storms at 20,000ft during an ascent of Shigri Parbat in Northern India. With little food or fuel, they eventually pushed through deep snow to summit before a perilous descent, narrowly avoiding being swept away by a huge avalanche. In 1997, during the first British ascent of Gimmigela in the Himalayas, Paul’s team experienced a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon – being avalanched from below after a massive icefall from a mountain 4km away swept up the glacier and struck their ledge-top camp. His quick actions and resilience were vital in saving his companions when one developed hypothermia and frostbite.
From 1999 to 2003, Paul lived in Borneo while working for the Sultan of Brunei. There, he deepened his appreciation for environmental stewardship, explored remote jungles, and dived along some of the most pristine coastlines in the world. He later returned to high-altitude climbing, including an attempt on the unclimbed South East Ridge of Makalu (the world’s 5th highest mountain) in 2010, during which his team also rescued another party from danger.
Paul’s greatest passion, however, lies in polar exploration. In 2012, he led the first man-haul crossing of the Antarctic Peninsula, conducting vital scientific research as part of the centenary commemorations for Captain Robert Falcon Scott RN. He also organised national events honouring Scott’s contribution to exploration and science. More recently, Paul led the Shackleton Commemoration Expedition – Antarctic Quest 21, marking 100 years since Shackleton’s death by venturing into uncharted regions of Antarctica to study microplastics, climate change, and mass ice loss. The findings from this expedition will be released in 2025.
Beyond adventure, Paul has a deep commitment to education and leadership. He is a qualified teacher (PGCE, QTLS), holds a Distinction at Master’s level in International Law and International Economics from Cambridge University, and is an accomplished coach and outdoor instructor in kayaking, skiing, diving, and mountaineering. He has represented Great Britain in dragon boating and is an elected member of the prestigious St. Moritz Cresta Club, where he rides the infamous ice track head-first at speeds exceeding 80mph.
A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Paul continues to combine exploration with education and science, regularly working with initiatives such as Education Through Expeditions. Now a valued member of the DDRC Training Team, he brings decades of unique field experience, resilience, and passion to his teaching – while still returning to Antarctica every year to push the boundaries of exploration.
In His Own Words
A personal reflection from Paul on fate, survival, and what lies ahead:
"I used to think I was the master of my own destiny—but looking back, I see how many coincidences and unlikely moments have quietly shaped the path I’ve taken. Somehow, they’ve all dovetailed into a life that’s been... well, interesting.
There have been more than a few times when I probably shouldn’t have made it through. Yet, against the odds—and occasionally with a voice in my head that didn’t feel like my own urging me to move or act—I’ve survived.
I feel deeply fortunate: to be here, to have lived the life I’ve lived, and to have shared in the joy of raising children. Fate, it seems, has been kind.
And I still believe the best adventures are not all behind me. There are more struggles to come—hopefully epic ones—and I trust the same kind fates will continue to watch over me."