Luke Robertson

Robertson was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and attended Netherley Primary School in Aberdeenshire,{{cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeenshire/928264/scot-share-south-pole-experiences/|title=Luke Robertson heading home to tell of his South Pole adventure|access-date=20 September 2016|archive-date=13 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013085218/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeenshire/928264/scot-share-south-pole-experiences/|url-status=live}} and grew up on a farm in Blairs, Maryculter. He also attended primary school in Montreuil Bellay, in the Vallee de La Loire, France, and Luss Primary School, Loch Lomond. Luke was then educated at Mackie Academy Secondary School in Stonehaven.

He has an MA Hons Joint Honours degree in History & French from the University of Glasgow and has an MSc in Investment and Finance from the University of Strathclyde Business School.{{cite web |url=http://www.gla.ac.uk/about/avenue/issue60june2016/alumninews/world-changingadventurers/ |title=University of Glasgow - About us - Avenue magazine - Issue 60 June 2016 - Alumni news - World-changing adventurers |website=www.gla.ac.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003105528/http://www.gla.ac.uk/about/avenue/issue60june2016/alumninews/world-changingadventurers/ |archive-date=2016-10-03}}

In January 2016, he became the youngest Brit and the first Scot to ski solo, unsupported and unassisted to the South Pole in Antarctica. He set off from Hercules Inlet on the edge of Antarctica on 5 December 2015 and arrived at the Geographic South Pole on 13 January 2016, completing expedition 'Due South 2015'.{{Cite web |url=http://duesouth2015.com/ |title=Due SOUTH |website=duesouth2015.com |access-date=20 September 2016 |archive-date=24 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924062804/http://duesouth2015.com/ |url-status=usurped }}

Upon arrival Luke was quoted as saying that he "What an unbelievable and surreal feeling. I feel on top of the bottom of the world."{{cite web|url = https://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/scotland/234945/i-feel-on-top-of-the-bottom-of-the-world-mearns-adventurer-completes-solo-trek-to-south-pole/|title = 'I feel on top of the bottom of the world!' Mearns adventurer completes solo trek to South Pole|date = 14 January 2016|access-date = 20 September 2016|archive-date = 2 February 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170202000717/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/scotland/234945/i-feel-on-top-of-the-bottom-of-the-world-mearns-adventurer-completes-solo-trek-to-south-pole/|url-status = live}} Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who was patron of the trip congratulated Luke on his efforts.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/inspirational-brit-overcomes-brain-operation-7177183|title=Hero Brit who has battled brain op becomes youngest to trek solo to South Pole|website=Daily Mirror|date=14 January 2016|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-date=27 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627154647/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/inspirational-brit-overcomes-brain-operation-7177183|url-status=live}} Sir Ranulph said: "I am delighted that Luke has reached the South Pole and becomes the youngest Brit ever to do so, unaided.

"It is an incredible achievement and I hope that his adventure inspires others to achieve their own goals in life and to raise funds for Marie Curie - a charity also close to my heart."{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/travel/luke-robertson-becomes-first-solo-scot-to-reach-south-pole-1-4000223|title=Luke Robertson becomes first solo Scot to reach South Pole|access-date=20 September 2016|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202010817/http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/travel/luke-robertson-becomes-first-solo-scot-to-reach-south-pole-1-4000223|url-status=live}}

This achievement was raised as a motion at the Scottish Parliament, in February 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S4M-15339&ResultsPerPage=10 |title=Luke Robertson, First Solo, Unassisted and Unsupported Scot to South Pole |id=Motion ref. S4M-15339 |date=January 14, 2016 |website=Scottish Parliament |access-date=14 October 2016 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202001830/http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S4M-15339&ResultsPerPage=10 |url-status=live }}

In May 2008, Robertson was fitted with an artificial pacemaker to treat 'complete heart block' and then in January 2010, he underwent a second operation to insert the pacemaker deeper.

In February 2014, he underwent brain surgery when diagnosed with a brain tumour. Following surgery, it was revealed to be a large and extremely rare (benign) enterogenous cyst.{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-33623808|title = Brain surgery inspires Luke Robertson's South Pole bid|work = BBC News|date = 23 July 2015|access-date = 21 June 2018|archive-date = 2 February 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170202005830/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-33623808|url-status = live}}

He has been on winter expeditions to central Norway, Eastern Greenland, Sapmi and Alaska. In 2016 he successfully completed the inaugural Cape Wrath Ultra marathon. The race from Fort William to Cape Wrath took place over 8 days and covered a distance of 250 miles (400 km+). The winner of the ladies race, Emanuela Marzotto, from Italy said: "This race is the hardest thing I’ve done, harder than the 10 day race in Australia or the Marathon Des Sables.{{cite web |url=http://www.capewrathultra.com/news/2016/06/02/Inaugural_Cape_Wrath_Ultra_Results__Quotes/ |title=Inaugural Cape Wrath Ultra Results & Quotes |date=2 June 2016 |website=Cape Wrath Ultra |access-date=20 September 2016 |archive-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917183635/http://www.capewrathultra.com/news/2016/06/02/Inaugural_Cape_Wrath_Ultra_Results__Quotes/|url-status=dead}} ". Among other events, he has also competed in the Lake District Ten Peaks Ultra, the Big Ben Nevis Triathlon in Fort William and the Wimbleball 70.3 Iron Man.

Alongside his wife and fellow adventurer and endurance athlete, Hazel Robertson (née Clyne),{{cite web |url=http://www.capewrathultra.com/news/2016/05/26/Adventurers_Assemble/ |title=Adventurers Assemble |date=26 May 2016 |website=Cape Wrath Ultra |access-date=20 September 2016|archive-date=3 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003185133/http://www.capewrathultra.com/news/2016/05/26/Adventurers_Assemble/|url-status=dead}} he has thus far raised over £70,000 for Marie Curie through funds raised by this expedition and other endeavours.{{cite web|url=https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hazelandluke|title=Hazel and Luke's adventures|access-date=20 September 2016|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202001746/https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hazelandluke|url-status=live}} They live together in Edinburgh.{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-35277584|title = Scots explorer Luke Robertson achieves South Pole first|work = BBC News|date = 14 January 2016|access-date = 21 June 2018|archive-date = 23 September 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170923205936/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-35277584|url-status = live}}

He helps front the 'Greener Scotland' Campaign.{{cite web |url=http://www.greenerscotland.org/greenertogether?page=3 |title=Greener Together Blog {{!}} Greener Scotland |website=www.greenerscotland.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516205937/http://www.greenerscotland.org/greenertogether?page=3 |archive-date=2014-05-16}}

He is an ambassador for the Polar Academy{{cite web |url=http://thepolaracademy.org/ |title=The Polar Academy |website=thepolaracademy.org |accessdate=2022-05-31 |archive-date=4 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004165241/http://thepolaracademy.org/ |url-status=live }} and for Marie Curie.

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.everyday-exploring.com www.everyday-exploring.com] Official Website
• [https://twitter.com/lukerobertson lukerobertson] on Twitter
• [http://www.instagram.com/lukerobertsonexplorer lukerobertsonexplorer] on Instagram
• [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukejgrobertson lukejgrobertson] on LinkedIn

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Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Aberdeenshire

Category:People educated at Mackie Academy

Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow

Category:Scottish explorers

Category:British ultramarathon runners

Category:British motivational speakers

Category:People from Stonehaven