I am one of a discussion panel on ‘Captain Scott’s Men’ at the Cheltenham Festival next week. David Wilson will speak on Edward Wilson. Anne Strathie on ‘Birdie’ Bowers, Patrick Cordingley on ‘Titus’ Oates. I will contribute on Edgar Evans. It should be good; we have all written on our subjects.
The event is L167 at The Town Hall, Main Hall
There are many other fascinating topics being discussed at the festival
You should come along!!
Isobel Williams – Author, Cruise Speaker and Lecturer 
I am sure that your contribution at the Festival will be formidable. Your audience will be astounded at the revelation revealed in your book that it was once believed that public school educated explorers could survive much better in polar conditions than elementary educated explorers,as was the case with Edgar Evans. And to what extent was Evans blamed for the mission’s failure because of his modest beginnings?-These undercurrents permeating the book are fascinating. So be prepared for some interesting questions from your audience
Of course not everybody thought this, but the fact that Edgar had lost control of himself was considered unmanly and he was judged accordingly. Players cigarette cards made images of the other four British explorers (and the Norwegians), but missed Edgar out–where he was going I think, is an anodyne picture of ‘taking deep-sea temperatures’, and a booklet produced honouring the explorers, has images and descriptions of Edgar’s four companions but he does not rate a mention! The book ‘Like English Gentlemen’ must have been particularly devastating to his children if they actually read it. Class consciousness was prevalent!