Books

Publications

Peaks to the Pole

Having served in the Royal Air Force's Mountain Rescue Service for over 20 years, Warrant Officer Al Sylvester found himself posted on promotion to the RAF's Headquarters at High Wycombe, away from the mountains and the life he had lived and breathed for two decades.

As he started his tour of duty, he followed his dream of organising his toughest and most challenging expedition of leading the RAF with their first unsupported attempt to the Geographic South Pole.

Peaks to the Pole describes how Al started his mountaineering experience within the 11th Grimsby Scout Group taking him and his team to the bottom of the earth. The book describes his willingness for his team to succeed, describing the mental and physical stresses, endless sleepless nights and the boundless determination to achieve his trip of a lifetime.

This inspiring story describes how his team survives temperatures of one of Antarctica's coldest seasons, with temperatures as low as -50 degrees as they painstakingly skied for over 6 weeks. Not foreseeing the events that happens on the ice, Al returns home and endures the heart breaking challenges of sustaining frostbite which desperately spiralled into depression. Read how he crawls back from such adversities to rekindle his life to once more inspire people to take on their own challenge of a lifetime. Price: £14 including P&P

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Walk to Freedom

Before retiring from 31 years in the Royal Air Force, Warrant Officer Al Sylvester MBE decides to draw on his skills and experiences from his service to embark on possibly his toughest physical and emotional challenge to date.

Having served in the RAF Mountain Rescue Service (MRS) for over 20 years and led the RAF's first unsupported expedition to the Geographic South Pole in 2006, Al looks closer to home to embark on an epic painstaking journey in memory of his best friend who lost his battle with Cancer.

Al's "Walk To Freedom" provides a brutally honest account of his unsupported walk between Land's End and John O' Groats, a distance of 881 miles in under 40 days.

Walk to Freedom sees Al walk away from the RAF into civilian street, and back to the Highlands where he spent his most memorable times with his best friend serving together in the MRS.

Read how Al overcomes the physical and mental evils involved with walking on the UK's roads, evading the treacherous oncoming traffic of some of this countries worst drivers.

WTF and including the sales of this book has raised over £28K including gift aid for the Prospect Hospice, Wroughton who provided Dean with his palliative care. Price: £10 including P&P

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Everest Dreams

Is a landscape picture diary of the views and experiences you would encounter while trekking to Mount Everest base camp. Encapsulated within the photos is my personal diary describing the breath taking scenery and the physical and mental emotions you would experience while exploring this magical area of the Himalaya's. These incredible photos taken by the expedition members open up this majestic world. This quote sums up things perfectly "The Himalaya's will bring tears to your eyes, then will gently freeze them to your face". Price: £13 including P&P

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Group Captain Claire O’Grady

Station Commander, Royal Air Force Brize Norton - June 2023

In support of our Station Health and Wellbeing Day, we were honoured to host Al Sylvester MBE at RAF Brize Norton who delivered an outstanding talk on the challenges he and his team faced on their mission to reach the geographic South Pole, on the RAF’s first unsupported attempt. Incredibly well received and sparking much conversation about mental resilience, determination and leadership. An inspirational and personable individual who delivers in a candid and compelling way, captivating his audience for the duration of his talk.

Tom Wood

Aston Martin Owners Club - January 2021

Al is a personal friend of mine and an RAF colleague but I had never heard his amazing account of his unsupported attempt on the South Pole. 88 members of the Aston Martin Owners Club, from across the World, listened to Al’s captivating presentation delivered on Zoom and to say we were all mesmerised is an understatement…. Learn more

Adam Pickford

Highlight L&D

After presenting in Milan for Nielson Global Solutions - October 2020

"Al is an authentic and inspiring speaker. His breadth of experiences and ability to relate these in a compelling and meaningful manner make him highly engaging to business audiences. Having worked with Al on numerous occasions, I value both his desire to understand the key aims of an event, and his resulting prep to ensure he really connects to these when sharing his stories".

Lt Col Andy Swannell

14 Regiment, Royal Artillery, Larkhill - Mental Resilience conference - March 2020

‘What an inspirational story; exceptional highs and lows, and that not just the South Pole expedition! We can all learn a great deal from Al, whether it is mental resilience, planning, dealing with hardship or over coming adversity (at home or in the wilderness)”.

Beccy Morgan-Doak

Head of Year 6

St Mary's CE Middle School

Puddletown, Dorchester - January 2023

Al was insightful, informative and inspiring when giving his Southern Reach workshop to our Year 6 pupils. The children were transfixed and loved all of the stories about how you go to the toilet at the South Pole and the stomach churning account of Al suffering from frostbite and the difficult recovery that followed. I received many emails from parents who said their children did not stop talking about the workshop and sharing his stories when they got home. He showed the children how a normal 11 year old boy from the north was able to achieve incredible things simply by showing determination, passion and not being afraid to ask for help. We will definitely be asking Al to return next year.

Becka Tompkins

Moorland Primary School

Milton Keynes - March 2022

Thank you so much for your visit. I cannot put into words how wonderful it was. As you know, our children live in an area of deprivation and many of them lack resilience, passion and determination. Your presentation has inspired some of them to (in their words) ‘Live life to the fullest and do great things like Al.’ We feel so privileged to have been able to meet you. The children spent all afternoon talking about you and telling all of the other staff about going to the toilet in Antarctica! The bogey icicles have also particularly stuck in their minds. They came into school today saying ‘today won’t be as brilliant as yesterday because Al isn’t here.’

Al you are a remarkable human being, well done for your fantastic venture and many thanks for teaching and inspiring our children. Without a doubt, I will booking you for next year and recommending you for others!

Paul Curnow

Head of Forest School - Spring Grove School

Ashford - January 2021

Al's presentation was engaging, inspirational and left the children with an enduring message of ambition, endurance and resilience. His perfectly pitched stories, delivered in his easy-going style, and in simple terms the children could understand, kept all of our primary-aged children and staff captivated throughout. Impressively, he managed to achieve all this through a live stream into the children's homes during the first week home learning. Just the job to motivate the children to overcome adversity during these challenging times!

Sam Colbourne

St John's Primary School

Wallingford - February 2021

"You had such a lovely way with the children"

WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO MUCH for such an INCREDIBLE day! The children (and staff!) were absolutely mesmerised by your story/stories. You had such a lovely way with the children that they really responded to and explained everything brilliantly! The way you linked things to Shackleton's expedition was amazing and really brought both experiences to life.

The year 3 and 4 teachers also raved over you and said you were amazing and fitted in perfectly with their superhero topic too!

Nicky (headteacher) also didn't stop talking about you after school.

Thank you so much for inspiring the children (and staff)! You really are brilliant!

Jade Rodgers

Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School

Wigan - February 2021

Thank you so much for yesterday, I can’t tell you the effect that it had on all of the children. The feedback from the parents has been fantastic with all of the children going home and researching how to become an explorer. Thank you so much for bringing so many smiles and enthusiasm to all of the children and the staff taking part yesterday, it’s much needed at the moment.

Fiona Hennessy

Hazelwood Schools

Enfield - May 2021

Thank you so much for such an engaging, inspiring talk for the children at Hazelwood today. I have had countless emails and comments from staff saying how wonderful it was and how engaged both the adults and children were alike!

You delivered it with such enthusiasm and the stories themselves were fascinating. I wish you could’ve seen the children’s faces, especially when you referenced poo!

I ‘quizzed’ my year 6's at the end of the day (I’d taken notes) and I was honestly blown away by how much they retained which reflects how much they enjoyed it and soaked it all up.

Thomas Becket Catholic School

Northampton - February 2020

Teacher quoted:

One quote Al said that will stay with me was whilst talking about his time along his journey he said "my situation was life threatening, yours is life building".

Several quotes by Sixth Form students:

"An inspirational man with an inspirational story. Al is a wise and courageous person and an excellent speaker". Learn more

Rosemary Wilson

Shipton Under Wychwood Women's Institute - July 2020

Thank you so much for the brilliant speaker last night. What a story about adventure and Antarctica! I think Zoom has taken speakers to a new level as they have to think very carefully about how they structure their “story” Al was a complete master of his with a minimum of slides, perfect.

Stuart Cairns MA BSc(Hons)Psych, MBPsS, FInstLM

Independent Training Consultant / Facilitator / Mediator - June 2019

"a truly inspirational man"

I worked extensively with Al when I was appointed Director of the Royal Air Force's Junior Officers' Development Programme. When working in day-to-day Academy business, Al was the consummate professional... Learn more

Group Captain Nick Robson

Career Manager at Royal Air Force (RAF) - September 2018

"A fascinating speaker whose experiences relate to everyone’s challenges"

We were asked to provide inspirational speakers for the Saracens Academy as part of their Players Development Programme. Al delivered a thought provoking and highly motivating presentation describing his South Pole expedition. What was truly inspirational... Learn more

Nigel Furlong MSc CISMP FSyI FInstLM

Leader in Infrastructure Resilience and Security - October 2018

"a session with Al seem to walk a little bit taller and are certainly fired up to take on the world"

Al has visited 2210 Cowley Squadron and also 1861 Wantage Squadron of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets at my request when as Officer Commanding both units. Al is simply an inspiring role model for the cadets and staff alike. He demonstrates the highest standards of bearing, respect, integrity, service, excellence and leadership and he is in particular an inspiring speaker. He has inspired cadets and volunteer staff to never let anyone get in the way of their dreams. If nothing less the cadet following a session with Al seem to walk a little bit taller and are certainly fired up to take on the world and its challenges. I highly commend Al Sylvester to you.

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