Saturday 8th December 2012



Legendary explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes has praised steelworkers at William Twigg Matlock Ltd for designing, building and delivering on time the large steel sledges that will make or break his expedition's bid to complete the first ever 2,000-mile crossing of Antarctica in winter.

Much of the epic journey will be made in complete darkness and in temperatures which could plummet to minus 70 degrees.



Matlock was treated to a unique sight this week as three powerful were lorries loaded with the sledges (above), properly termed 'skoots', and left Twigg's steel division on Bakewell Road (below) at the start of their journey to the frozen wastes of Antarctica and for the men who had built them, it was a particularly proud moment.



The 'world's greatest living adventurer' had already sent his 'thousand thanks' to the team for all their work and for delivering the 14 sledges within a very tight timescale.

In a personal message to Twigg's Works Manager, Alan Boden, who co-ordinated the design and fabrication project, Sir Ranulph wrote: "Hopefully, they, and we, will make it all the way".

As previoulsy reported in The Chesterfield Post (HERE), the skoots will carry vital supplies of fuel to power the expedition's two giant caterpillar-tracked bulldozers from the Russian base at Novolazarevskaya to the American base at McMurdo via the South Pole.

It will take the team about six months and has been described as "the coldest journey on earth".

Each skoot is over six metres long, three metres wide, weighs two tons and will carry a rubber 'bladder' containing 8000 litres of special diesel. In Antarctica, the sledges will be fastened together three-abreast with steel ropes and clips to form a 'skoot train'.

Veteran explorer Sir Ranulph, who will lead the way on foot across the ice, knows only too well that if things go wrong with the sleds or the tractors, there is no hope whatever of being rescued.


Sir Ranulph Fiennes (centre) with Antarctic Expedition Ice Team members Brian Newham (left) and Ian Prickett (right)

Steelworkers at Twigg's however, have no reservations about the quality of their skoots.


Twigg's director, Richard Tarbatt (left) with Alan Boden overseeing fabrication of the 'skoots'

Says Alan: "We're very proud of our workmanship and each skoot has been rigorously tested to exacting standards.

"Everyone here is thrilled to have played an important part in such a prestigious project. It’s a testament to the skills of Twigg's workforce that Sir Ranulph personally thanked us for our achievements.

"We shall of course be watching the expedition's progress very closely and wish them all the very best."

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