Fiennes, Virginia (1947–2004)

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Fiennes, Virginia (1947–2004)

English explorer. Name variations: Ginny Fiennes; Lady Fiennes; Lady Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes. Born Virginia Frances Pepper, July 9, 1947, near Lodsworth, West Sussex, England; died Feb 20, 2004, in Exeter, England; dau. of Tom and Janet Pepper; m. Sir Ranulph "Ran" Fiennes (polar explorer), 1970; no children.

The 1st woman invited to join the Antarctic Club (1985) and the 1st woman to be awarded the Polar Medal (1987), originated and inspired the planning and was base leader for husband's more than 30 expeditions in Africa, Arabia and the polar regions; specializing in very low frequency communications, became Britain's most experienced polar radio operator and was instrumental in saving the lives of a group of South African scientists lost near her isolated base; wrote bestselling book, Bothie, The Polar Dog (1984), about her beloved Jack Russell terrier, her companion to both north and south poles.