Burrell Society Lecture – Ben Heason

Sixth Formers were treated to an extraordinary lecture by climber and adventurer, Ben Heason. Ben captivated the audience as he shared insights into his career as a climber, particularly highlighting his remarkable achievement of being the first team to conquer Angel Falls in Venezuela. This awe-inspiring adventure demanded months of meticulous planning and preparation, culminating in a gruelling 20-day ascent of the world’s tallest waterfall, measuring a staggering 980 meters—eleven times the height of Big Ben.

During his talk, Ben delved into the immense dedication and teamwork required to accomplish such a monumental feat. He candidly discussed the range of emotions he experienced leading up to the event, as well as the practical challenges of living and sleeping while harnessed to the vertical wall for two weeks. Drawing from his own experiences, Ben emphasised the significance of persistence in pursuing your personal goals, encouraging the students to persevere and make progress, no matter how small the steps may seem.

Ben’s captivating stories truly inspired the students, and they eagerly engaged with him by posing thought-provoking questions. A big thank you to Ben for sharing his experiences with us today.