Explorer Julian Monroe Fisher shares a tale of African adventure

Explorer and Anthropologist Julian Monroe Fisher will present a tale of adventure and intrigue that has long been overlooked as a footnote to the history of the African Congo in a talk in Dumfries, Borders, Ayr and Helensburgh between the 25th and 28th of March.

The year was 1890. King Leopold II of Belgium was trying to secure his piece of the cake during the period referred to as ‘The Scramble for Africa’. He first turned to Henry Morton Stanley to push forward with his Congo Free State, but the ageing explorer turned down the offer and recommended a young Canadian officer who had served valiantly with Stanley during the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition. 

  
Captain William Grant Stairs, 27 years young, accepted the offer to lead King Leopold’s expedition to Katanga. The young officer, along with a Frenchman, an English man, an Irishman and a Belgian (arguably a team of hired mercenaries), set off from the east coast of Africa for the province of Katanga in what is today the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In a moment of sheer recklessness one impetuous young member of the Stairs Expedition to Katanga altered not only the course of the Garanganze people and their King Msiri but also his own life and that of the rest of the expeditionary team. 

 

This talk is part of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Inspiring People talks programme.

Julian Monroe Fisher is an explorer noted primarily for his exploration of the African continent.

Julian’s expeditions have turned their focus to the Katanga Province of The Democratic Republic of Congo in 2009 and 2010 where he is working closely with Sa Majeste´ Mwenda-Bantu Munongo Godefroid Mwami, the king of the Garanganze people of Katanga. 

Julian is researching the events of the 1891-92 Stairs Expedition to Katanga as well as potential local unexcavated archaeological sites. He is also working with Mwami Munongo and his family to build the first royal museum in the Congo and an Anthropological research station in the village of Bunkeya.

 

Julian’s talk, Journey to Katanga: An Expedition into the Past will take place at 7:30pm on the following dates.

Dumfries: Monday 25th March

Easterbrook Hall, The Crichton, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4TA

Borders (Galashiels): Tuesday 26th March

Scottish Borders Campus, Nether Road, Galashiels, TD1 3HE

Ayr: Wednesday 27th March

Council Chambers, Ayr Town Hall, New Bridge Street, Ayr, KA7 1JX.

Helensburgh: Thursday 28th March

Victoria Halls, Sinclair Street, Helensburgh, G84 8TU

£8 for adults, (redeemable if buying membership) and free students, under 18s and for RSGS members. Tickets are available on the day from the venue. For more information about any of our talks this season please visit www.rsgs.org/events/

Travel Writer Hilary Bradt Describes Her Pony Ride around West Ireland.

Hilary Bradt is a publisher, award-winning writer, lecturer and co-founder of Bradt Travel Guides. She’ll share the story of her long distance pony ride around West Ireland in Dumfries, Peebles, Ayr and Helensburgh on the 28th to 31st January 2013.
 
Since her pony-obsessed childhood, explorer-publisher Hilary Bradt had dreamed of tackling a long-distance ride. Short treks in Ethiopia and the Peruvian Andes proved to be mere dress rehearsals for the real thing – a thousand-mile journey on horseback, solo, through the west of Ireland in 1984.

Hilary Bradt MBE, is a travel writer and co-founder of Bradt Travel Guides.

Nearly three decades later, Hilary will retrace her steps, kindling the poignant memories of her relationship with Mollie, her Connemara pony.

Set against the vivid backdrop of rural Ireland, this is a witty and ultimately moving tale of the growing bond between horse and rider, the challenges they face and the people who shelter them during their colourful wanderings together.

These lectures are part of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Inspiring People talks programme. The talk in Ayr has been kindly sponsored by Hillhouse Quarry Group.

Born in 1941, Hilary was brought up in Buckinghamshire and worked as an occupational therapist in the USA and South Africa before returning to Bucks in 1980 to concentrate on publishing and tour-leading. In 2008 she was awarded an MBE for services to the tourist industry and to charity, and in 2009 received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Guild of Travel Writers. She now lives in Devon.

Hilary built a great friendship with Mollie, her Connemara pony.

Hilary’s talks:

Dumfries: Monday 28th January, 7:30pm.

Easterbrook Hall, The Crichton, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4TA

Borders (Peebles): Tuesday 29th January, 7:30pm.

The Eastgate Theatre, Eastgate, Peebles, EH43 8AD.

Ayr: Wednesday 30th January, 7.30pm. 

Council Chambers, Ayr Town Hall, New Bridge Street, Ayr, KA7 1JX.

Helensburgh: Thursday 31st January, 7.30pm.

Victoria Halls, Sinclair Street, Helensburgh, G84 8TU

£8 for adults, (redeemable if buying membership) and free students, under 18s and for RSGS members. Tickets are available on the day from the venue. For more information about any of our talks this season please visit www.rsgs.org/events/