Standard Bank Jersey hosted an evening with renowned British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes at the end of October, during which he entertained guests with stories of wonder and awe.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Sir Ranulph speak at our event,” says Chris Stead, Head of International Portfolio Management at Standard Bank Jersey. “He is not only one of the world’s greatest living explorers, but also a fantastic storyteller. We hope that our audience tonight feel inspired by his unbelievable achievements and his obvious resilience and determination to succeed at what most people would think impossible.”

The explorer and raconteur regaled the audience with stories from his many record-breaking expeditions. These include being the first person to achieve a circumpolar navigation of the world, and the oldest Briton (65) to reach the top of Everest.

Sir Ranulph also gave a peek into the challenges in launching these expeditions, and the harrowing conditions they endure. A key aspect of his work is raising funds for charity, which he said gave a real sense of achievement for having raised more than £19 million over the years.

“It is a particular privilege to be hosted by Standard Bank Jersey,” he said. “Africa, particularly South Africa, is a home from home for me. I moved to Cape Town when I was one and lived there until I was 12 and I still have a lot of family there. Standard Bank’s home is also Africa and its commitment to drive her growth is something that I believe is thoroughly worthwhile.”