Most of us only dare to dream of exploring uncharted territories and discovering new mountains in one of the harshest environments on earth. For Tim Hall, this dream has been a reality, and as a veteran of seven Antarctic expeditions he has more than a few tales to tell. Growing up in the Scottish Highlands, Tim would “escape into the mountains at every available opportunity” to take refuge from the school he hated. After joining the navy, firstly as a marine engineer and later as a photographer, Tim found himself in the French Alps on convalescence after the Falklands War. | "The only death you die, is the death you die every day by not living. Aim high and dare to fail." | | Local photographer and explorer, Tim Hall |
‘When I was there I saw Mont Blanc and decided that I was going to climb it… Shortly afterwards a friend of mine showed me an advertisement in the paper which basically said ‘Explorers wanted’. I answered and managed to blag my way on to my first Antarctic expedition.’ Tim’s first visit to the Antarctic saw him, along with ten others, exploring the continent's largest unexplored island. ‘We were there on our own for four months until the next ship came along.’ The isolation from modern life particularly appealed to Tim who describes the period as the ‘greatest time of my life… you didn’t have to worry about how much you were being paid, or taxing the car. Everything you needed to live you had in a rucksack.’ Tim climbed 36 previously undiscovered mountains on this expedition and still names the Antarctic Peninsula as his favourite place on earth: ‘You get such a marvellous combination of a maritime environment, mountains and spectacular wildlife.’ Throughout all his voyages, Tim has put his 20 years as a Royal Navy photographer to good use, capturing many images of the landscapes he has faced.
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Tim’s latest passion is for para-motoring, a pastime which has once again taken him back to the Antarctic Peninsula. He recently undertook a four month sailing, mountaineering and paramotoring expedition to Antarctica using the versatility of paramotors to record videos and take more photographs of the landscape. Describing paramotoring as ‘the most simplistic form of powered flight you can undertake’, it is much like paragliding but with a propeller strapped to your back. Controlling the paramotor and capturing the perfect picture can be a hair raising task and requires ‘a high degree of co-ordination and a degree of madness. To get a good picture you have to let go of the controls.’ Currently living in Newport, Tim often uses a paramotor to take in the local landscape. Speeds of 35mph can be reached and Tim enjoys flying around Shropshire at altitudes of up to around 1,000 feet. Despite a recent crash-landing in icy water, which left him struggling to haul himself to the surface with a 30kg paramotor on his back, Tim is already planning his next adventure. The long term sees him off to Tibet with his paramotor after taking some time out to spend with his family. His talk, ‘Adventure Antarctica’, on Monday 23 January at the Music Hall will feature photographs and stories from a number of the expeditions Tim has undertaken, with the opportunity for people to ask any questions. Tickets for the 7.30 performance have already sold out but there are some seats available for the 2.30 matinee by ringing the Music Hall on 01743 281281 | 
