Andy Torbet is an all-action hero who dives, climbs, and parachutes; he’s therefore an ideal person to have as support on a BBC-filmed expedition to investigate the glaciology of Greenland. Coastwise members received from Andy a fascinating behind-the-scenes view of the Operation Iceberg series, screened last year.
As well as hearing tales of ice-cold nerve, courage and fortitude (needed to use the camp latrine), we also heard about the fun aspects of having 
a paid-for adventure holiday. As well as viewing Arctic foxes and polar bears, he was able to observe man-eating mosquitos at very close quarters as the expedition doctor persuaded him paticipate in a "strip off for the mosquitos" experiment.
The doctor has a lot to answer for, because he also persuaded Andy into jumping in to the sea naked except for some sensors to gain data on the body’s cold water reflex. Andy’s experience (and I suspect military training) enabled him to survive this comparatively unscathed. To his credit the doctor also subjected himself to the 
cold water, with much more dramatic effects !
Andy was useful as a gofer for the scientists who couldn’t dive for specimens of underwater observations in cold water, or recover ice-samples from deep crevasses, but he clearly learned a lot about glaciology. We learned about mysterious sink-holes at the bottom of blue fresh-water lakes in the ice, and the calving of huge icebergs.
This was the second time we’ve had the pleasure of Andy’s company, and again it was a real pleasure to have such an entertaining and down-to-earth guest speaker.