Speaking up for heroes – 16 July 2009 Royal Institution, London

Speaking up for Heroes For one unforgettable night, several of the finest speakers in the UK will gather at the Royal Institution, London, to present on the subject of courage, of achievement, of overcoming impossible odds – to celebrate heroism itself.

Speaking Up for Heroes – the first event of its kind – will see great speakers celebrating and supporting our nation’s great heroes.

In their own way, each speaker has been on the frontline – whether on covert and overt special operations worldwide; reporting on international conflicts; sailing solo in the notorious Southern Ocean, skiing solo to the Poles, or leading expeditions through un-chartered territories.

Speaking Up for Heroes will be a memorable entertaining and throught-provoking evening as each speaker shares their stories and personal insights on heroism, courage and succeeding against impossible odds.

Our Speakers

John Simpson CBE	Dee Caffari MBE	Monty Halls	Ben Saunders	Andy McNab
BBC World Affairs editor	World Record - making Yachstwoman	TV Presenter, Adventurer former Royal Marine	Record-breaking Polar Explorer	Best-selling Author former SAS Commander

More detail on the Speakers
Please note all Speakers are generously giving their services for no fee, and the Royal Institiution are kindly offering the venue free of charge too.


John Simpson CBE	Dee Caffari MBE	Monty Halls
In a BBC career spanning more than 40 years, John has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most experienced and authoritative journalists. With his experience in international journalism John has the ability to cover topics from highly factual and intense World Affairs to more light-hearted and amusing tales from his extensive travels.	Yachtswoman and inspirational speaker Dee Caffari MBE is the only woman to have sailed ‘the wrong way’ around the world, a voyage that took six months (2006) and on completing the Vendee Globe in 2009, achieved a double world record as the first woman to circumnavigate the world solo, non-stop, in both directions.	A former Royal Marine who has dedicated the last 20 years to the exploration of the world’s oceans. Monty led an expedition that discovered a sunken city, has circumnavigated the world several times, won Channel 4’s series Superhuman in 2003 and recently filmed the acclaimed BBC2 series Monty Halls’ Great Escape.

Ben Saunders	Andy McNab DCM MM	Special Guest Appearances
Ben is a long-distance skier with four North Pole expeditions under his belt. Educated at Sandhurst, Ben is the youngest to ski solo to the North Pole (and only the third person to manage this feat) and he holds the record for the longest solo Arctic journey by a Briton. The Times has claimed Ben will be: ‘the next Sir Ranulph Fiennes’.	A member of 22 SAS Regiment, Andy McNab was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal during his military career. The best-selling author of Bravo Two Zero, Immediate Action and fast action thrillers also remains in demand for his expertise in training others to deal with hostile environments.	Geoff Holt, the first quadriplegic yachtsman to sail single-handedly around Great Britain. Chris Holmes MBE, Britain’s most successful Paralympic swimmer & Patron of Help for Heroes. Tom Newton-Dunn, Journalist & Defence Editor at The Sun

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