NEIL Stevenson packed his bags for a trip to the final frontier this spring and ended up with some of the great explorers of our time.

Neil, 48, from Abbot Clough, Knuzden, took time out this February from his British Aerospace job for a two-week cruise in Antarctica. And the 22,500 tonne ship Marco Polo also housed explorers Edmund Hillary, Edith Ronnie and Geoff Somers, famous for expeditions to Everest, Antarctica and K2.

Neil said: "To see all the stunning wild life is really something else."

Unphased by the presence of well known explorers, Neil took his chance to relax with Edmund Hillary. I had a chance to speak to him as he was there giving talks to people and just relaxing I think. He said he was really pleased with his life and had enjoyed doing such great expeditions.

"The whole experience has been marvellous and I am just glad I did not forget my long-Johns - it really was freezing!"