Rosie Stancer

Rosie Stancer née Clayton (born 1960) is a British explorer and polar adventurer who, since 1996, has embarked on major polar expeditions of increasing severity and commitment.

Rosie Stancer attended Butterstone House School in Scotland, Heathfield School, Ascot. She also holds an honorary degree from the University of Essex and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society.

Stancer is the great-niece of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and the daughter of Lady Mary Clayton who died on 13 February 2014. She is married to William Stancer with whom she has one son, Jock Stancer, born in 2001. Her husband’s maternal grandfather was Sir James Wordie. He was also known as Jock Wordie when he was the Geologist with Sir Ernest Shackleton on the H.M.S. Endurance/1916 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Jock Wordie was also chairman of Scott Polar Institute Cambridge and President of the Royal Geographical Society.

McVities All Women’s Penguin Polar Relay 1997

In 1997, Stancer was one of 20 amateur women selected for a place on the first all women’s expedition to the North Pole, The 'McVities Penguin Polar Relay'. A relay of five teams hauled sleds of up to 150 lbs across 500 miles (800 km) of shifting pack ice in temperatures down to minus 40 °C. After 73 days, the final relay group stood on top of the world at the North Pole.

M&G ISA South Pole Expedition 1999

In 1999, Stancer and four others from the first expedition organised and managed their own expedition to the South Pole, The 'M&G ISA Challenge'. Without guides, and with one re-supply, they completed the 700-mile (1,100 km) journey from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole in 61 days. Meteorological data was gathered on route and submitted to the Omega Foundation.

Snickers South Pole Solo 2004

In the Austral summer of 2003-4, Stancer skied solo and without re-supply to the South Pole on the 'Snickers South Pole Solo 2004' expedition. Hauling a sledge more than twice her body weight for over 700 miles (1,100 km), Stancer reached the Pole in 43 days 23 hours, a day longer than Fiona Thornewill who reached the South Pole a few days before Stancer. During the expedition Stancer gathered both meteorological and physiological data.

Mars North Pole Solo 2007

In 2007, Stancer attempted to become the first woman to trek solo to the Geographic North Pole. Stancer walked alone for 326 nautical miles (604 km) and 84 days over the surface of the frozen Arctic Ocean before being airlifted from the ice just short of the North Pole. The difficult decision to abandon the expedition was because of the unusually treacherous conditions that year and the fragility of the ice, preventing the pilots of the pick up aeroplane being able to land safely at the final destination of the North Pole.

Mars North Pole Solo

Although the climate forecast may negate this possibility, in future yearsStancer will again attempt the last female solo expedition to the North Pole . For this expedition, she will fly from the northern tip of Canada and set off on her epic journey across the frozen Arctic Ocean starting in the Spring. The expedition is expected to last 60 days. If Stancer succeeds, she will be the first woman to reach both the South and North Poles.

Taklamakan Anglo-Chinese Expedition 2016/2017

In spring of 2017 Stancer will lead the first female-led expedition team to cross the length of the Taklamakan Desert from west to east. The journey will take approximately 10 weeks and cover 1000 km of terrain with altitudes of 1500m and shifting dunes of 450m in height. The Taklamakan Anglo-Chinese Expedition will provide an international opportunity to further the interest and understanding of OBOR One Belt One Road initiative.

Rosie is an honorary board member for the charity Special Olympics GB, which seeks to provide sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-style events for people with learning disabilities. The charity provides continuing opportunities for people to develop their physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of skills, gifts and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

In addition to helping her charity, which currently works with 5,000 children and adults in the UK, Rosie’s expeditions have relevance to the wider community as she gathers environmental data and undertakes physiological research while on the ice with the University of Essex.

Stancer was awarded an honorary fellowship from the Polar exploration society. She also received the Mirror award for bravery from the Royal Geographical Society and holds an honorary degree from the University of Essex and is Honorary Vice President of the Scientific Exploration Society.

Stancer has completed several motivational speaking tours throughout 2015/2016 for MOD, including Radley School, Scientific Exploration Society, Abercrombie and Kent and Adventure Philanthropy.

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