Antony Jinman, Polar Explorer
Polar explorer Antony Jinman can count himself fortunate to have stood in some of world’s most spectacular landscapes – but for this 29-year-old Plymothian there is no place quite like home.
Growing up and throughout his adult life, Antony’s inspiration has been the legendary Plymouth explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott. In 2012 he will lead an expedition to Scott’s final resting place on the Antarctic shelf to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Scott’s death on his ill-fated bid to reach the South Pole.
But as always Antony’s thoughts will never be far from family and friends in Plymouth and the city that he loves.
“I’ve been to some amazing places around the world but Plymouth is my home,” he says.
“Everything I’m about is trying to promote the city and the South West. A lot of explorers tend to base themselves in London because that is often where the the potential funding and the contacts are but this is where I want to be.
“Business in Plymouth is different too. It’s a community and Plymouth is very supportive and there is a really positive sense of people wanting to work together. That positivity and sense of community is a big attraction.”
Being in Plymouth also allows Antony to do much more in terms of his educational outreach work through his not-for-profit company Education Through Expeditions, inspiring young people in the way that Scott’s exploits inspired him.
“There is so much here in terms of Plymouth’s history and its cultural heritage both as a city but also of the nation itself, which is something that I’m very proud of. Plymouth has such a seafaring and adventurous past – Drake, Darwin. And of course I grew up on the history of Captain Scott, my greatest hero and a very inspirational figure for me.
“I always found that I loved being in the outdoors, rock climbing, doing the Ten Tors, sea cliff climbing and surfing. And of course this is the perfect location to go off and explore the rest of Devon and Cornwall.”
Antony also knew from early on that he wanted to go off and explore the polar regions.
“As you start travelling its very easy to get passionate about places that you go to – the history, environment and people. Travelling to the polar regions, seeing how they are changing and taking that experience into the classroom is an amazing privilege.
“But wherever I am, I’m always thinking of home and family and friends and all the things I love about Plymouth – pasties, seafood, Devon wine and local beer, the Barbican, Plymouth’s Farmers’ Market.
“One of my favourite views is to stand on the Hoe looking out to sea but I also love standing at Mount Batten looking back at the city, its marinas, the Hoe and the Citadel. It’s beautiful.”
