The John Rae Society is delighted to announce that Cerys Matthews, MBE, musician, broadcaster, and writer, has joined the Society as a Patron.
Cerys accepted the invitation following a recent appearance by the Society’s President, Mr Andrew Appleby, on her BBC Radio 6 Music show. During the programme, they spoke about John Rae, the Orkney-born Arctic adventurer whose achievements include charting parts of the Northwest Passage and learning vital survival skills from the Inuit.
A long-time admirer of Orkney and John Rae, Cerys expressed her enthusiasm for the Society’s work and its efforts to promote Rae’s legacy, his respect for indigenous knowledge, and his contributions to exploration and science.
Mr Appleby said:
“I was delighted to find the depth of knowledge of John Rae, the Arctic and Orkney that Cerys has. So, I was very happy to ask her to become a patron of The John Rae Society. She joins an esteemed band of Trustees, such as Lorraine Kelley, Sir Michael Palin, Rae Mears and Ken McGoogan.”
Cerys joins a growing group of patrons and supporters who are helping to preserve and develop Rae’s birthplace, Hall of Clestrain, as a centre for education, heritage, and exploration.