Family of explorer pays tribute at St Paul’s

Today, a century on from the date of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s last diary entry, relatives of Alfred Cheetham from Hull will join hundreds of others at St Paul’s Cathedral for a service to commemorate the doomed explorers.

“Alf”, who lived in Bean Street in the city, spent six years in the Antarctic between 1902 and 1916, taking part in now legendary journeys including Shackleton’s Nimrod expedition and Captain Scott’s ill-fated one. After surviving “the worst journey in the world”, he died when his ship was torpedoed off the North-East coast towards the end of the First World War.

Edgar Evans, one of the five to perish along with Captain Scott, once described Cheetham as “quite a character, immensely popular and loyal... a tough, humorous little soul”.

Great-grandson Adam Fowler, who will be at the service with brother Christian and mother Cynthia Fowler, a retired teacher from East Hull, was bought up on stories of his famous ancestor.

He said: “The family has always been fascinated by his exploits. It is not just the fact that he was an Antarctic explorer, it was an exciting time when new discoveries were being made.

“A loveable character with a great appetite for exploration, his determination and bravery has come to symbolise our great city.”

The Princess Royal will read a lesson, broadcaster Sir David Attenborough will read an extract from Captain Scott’s final diary entry and the Bishop of London will give the sermon.

On 17 January, 1912, Captain Scott’s party reached the South Pole, only to find they had been beaten by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen. They all died on the return journey.

Cheetham, one of just 65 men selected from over 8,000 applicants, volunteered to help in the search for the explorers, but was turned down as he was a married man with children. A glacier is named after him as well as a cape .