Sir Wally Herbert

Arctic explorer. Brought up in South Africa and trained at the School of Military Survey, he served with the army in Egypt (1953–4). He was surveyor with the Falkland Is Dependencies Survey (1955–8), and took part in expeditions to Lapland, Svalbard, and Greenland. He participated in the New Zealand Antarctic Expedition (1960–2), and commemorated the 50th anniversary of Amundsen's attainment of the Pole by following his return journey. He led the first surface crossing of the Arctic Ocean (1968–9), lived in the Arctic with his wife and daughter, and made several attempts to circumnavigate Greenland (1978–82). He was knighted in 1999.

Sir Wally Herbert (born 24 October 1934) is a British polar explorer, writer and artist. In 1969 he became the first man to walk undisputed to the North Pole, on the 60th anniversary of Robert Peary's famous, but disputed, expedition.

In recognition of his polar achievements, he has received several honours and awards: among them the Polar Medal and bar; the gold medals of several Geographical Societies, and the Explorers Medal of the Explorers Club.

Herbert was knighted in 1999.