Music - from St Michael's to Antarctica
FEATHERS were ruffled at Tuesday night choir practice when regular bass singer Tim Miall arrived to rehearse dressed as a six foot penguin.
Tim, a science teacher at Twyford CofE school in Acton, is set to take part in an ambitious expedition to the icy wastes of Antarctica next autumn, and agreed to the costume stunt in exchange for sponsorship from his fellow choir members.
The trip is being run by the educational charity the Fuchs Foundation, which works to inspire interest in science and geography among Britain's schoolchildren, firing their imagination through foreign exploration, in memory of the legendary explorer Sir Vivian Fuchs.
Tim will be one of four teachers from UK schools spending six weeks at a base camp in a largely unexplored region, carrying out scientific experiments and research which will then be filtered back to students at home.
Training and support for any Antarctic trip is time-consuming and expensive and Tim is busy raising money to fund the trip.
He recently ran the London 10km race in his penguin suit, with sponsorship from the choir.
British explorer Sir Vivian Fuchs (1908-1999) was an eminent geologist and explorer best known for leading the Commonwealth Expedition which completed the first overland crossing of Antarctica in 1958.
Tim said: 'It will be a fascinating trip. Surviving in that environment will take a lot of good preparation and the right equipment, but the educational spin-offs before, during and afterwards for our pupils will be massive.
'I'll be in touch with the school and home through satellite phones and a website - except when we're confined to our tent during blizzards, which can last for days.'
To sponsor Tim, visit his website: www.justgiving.com/sir-in-antarctica/
Or if you feel you or your company can help as a major sponsor, with publicity opportunities, contact him at tmiall@twyford.ealing.sch.uk.
Matthew Hickley