Marathon explorer is UK Oldie of the Year

Explorer Ranulph Fiennes was today named Oldie of the Year in Britain.

Fiennes, who turns 60 later this week, made history last year when he finished seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.

The achievement came only four months after he underwent an emergency double heart bypass operation.

Described in the Guinness Book of Records as “the world’s greatest living explorer”, he was the first man to circumnavigate the globe on its polar axis and was one of the first to walk unaided across Antarctica.

The Oldie’s annual awards were being announced at a ceremony hosted by Terry Wogan at Simpson’s-in-the-Strand in London.

Professor Colin Pillinger, brains behind the ill-fated Beagle 2 expedition to Mars, was named explorer of the year, and veteran Labour MP Tam Dalyell was politician of the year.

Author Nina Bawden, whose husband died in the Potters Bar rail disaster, was named campaigner of the year for her determination to bring those responsible to account.

The “cometh the hour” award went to actor Christopher Lee, still going strong at 81 with roles in The Lord Of The Rings and Star Wars.