Polar Medal: King Charles III Honours Antarctic-trekking Academic

An Antarctic-trekking academic has been awarded the Polar Medal.

Prof John Smellie, from the University of Leicester, was given the accolade by King Charles III.

It is the second time he has received the medal, having been awarded one by Queen Elizabeth II in 1986.

The professor, who spent most of his career working as a senior volcanologist for the British Antarctic Survey, said he had been “quite shocked” to receive the honour twice.

The Polar Medal is awarded to people for outstanding achievement and service to the UK in the field of polar research.

Originally called the Arctic Medal, it has existed for 150 years.

There have been more than 1,000 recipients but fewer than two dozen have had it conferred twice.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes is one of the famous recipients of the medal
Previous recipients of the medal include Sir Ernest Shackleton, Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

Prof Smellie is an honorary professor of volcanology in the school of geography, geology and the environment at the university.

The university said he had visited and worked on more volcanoes in Antarctica than any other person. As a result, he has sometimes been nicknamed Mr Antarctic Volcano.

Prof Smellie first visited Antarctica as a 21-year-old and has carried out 27 expeditions to Antarctica, most recently in late 2022.