Dear Mr Fiennes,
You are a remarkable man and have done some pretty amazing
things in your life. To be still going strong at your age is nothing short of a
miracle. You've tested yourself to the limit as a human being and done so much
for charity that you should be commended for all your achievements. Actually I'm pretty sure you have been commended for your achievements so forget that
bit.
Although I have never been to the North and South Pole,
climbed Everest or crossed the Antarctic, I have experienced some things in my
life where I've thought, this must be what Sir Ranulph feels like when he does
these heroic things (I can call you Sir Ranulph right?) The first incident was
some years ago when I’d been out with the lads on a Friday night to Epsom. It
was about 3 in the morning and the club we were in was shutting, it was just me
and my friend Malik left and between us we had not a penny to get a cab home,
nor did we have any money on our phones to call anyone. So we had no choice but
to begin the long walk home unaided to Chessington. I'm not sure if you've ever
done the Epsom to Chessington walk Sir Ranulph but I can tell you now it is one
of immense pain, just a long straight road lasting a good hour and a half. With
our legs going and no water it is a miracle we ever made it back that night.
Another incident also going back a few years now, I was
working at Chessington World of Adventures in the car parks, I went to pick up
a folding metal sign and I got my fingertip trapped at the top, eventually I broke
free, but with my nail turning purple I had no choice but to go to the
hospital. I then sat waiting to be seen for hours on end as my finger throbbed
in pain, honestly you've
never felt pain like it Sir Ranulph. As time wore on I
felt that there could be a distinct possibility that I may have to have my
finger amputated. Turns out they just pierced the nail to release the blood and
I was aloud to go home, but it was touch and go for a moment.
Sorry to go on but I have got one more and this was quite
recently. I work in a care home in Godalming as a Kitchen Assistant or Chef as
I like to tell people and the other week I got shut in the freezer. My whole
life flashed before me as I shouted and banged on the door for help. Believe me
Sir Ranulph you don’t even know how cold and dark it was. As no one came to
help I wondered to myself how long it would be before I wilted away. Then after
about 5 minutes of being in there I suddenly realised you could open it from
the inside and I lived to fight another day. But it was touch and go for a
moment.
Anyway I’ll let you get on, but it just goes to show we’re
not all that different me and you.
Toodle pip
Oliver Trout
(Chef)