Explorer completes the challenge of a lifetime

The University of Plymouth supported Robin Hanbury-Tenison to row the River Tamar

Philip Habib

Explorer and author Robin Hanbury-Tenison has a wealth of experience in travel, conservation and campaigning to preserve our natural world.

Now – to mark his 89^th birthday – he’s taken on the challenge of a lifetime by rowing 22 miles on the River Tamar, thanks to support from students and staff at the University of Plymouth.

He completed the challenge for the Thousand Year Trust, a charity dedicated to tripling the amount of temperate rainforest in the UK.

His sustainability efforts saw him awarded an honorary doctorate from the University in 2012 and staff and students have been pivotal to his latest endeavour.

Robin Hanbury-Tenison with staff, students and friends from the University of Plymouth

Robin Hanbury-Tenison at the start of his journey with staff, students and friends from the University of Plymouth

I’m really grateful for the University’s support.

My legs have pretty well given out now, so no more running or climbing mountains, but the arms are still pretty strong. Thanks to training, I was pleased just to get out and do alright, and I hope I’ll raise quite a lot of money for a cause close to a lot of people’s hearts.

Explorer, author and University of Plymouth Honorary Doctorate recipient, Robin Hanbury-Tenison

Robin Hanbury-Tenison training at InterCity Place

Philip Habib

Philip Habib

It’s been great working with Robin and especially brilliant to bring students on board his preparation journey.

We’ve had healthcare students and staff working with him on his physical and strength training in our state-of-the-art facilities at InterCity Place, as well as psychology students supporting him with his mindset.

On the day, we were out alongside him in a support vessel skippered by experts from our Marine Station, alongside a creative writing student who is building his journey into her final portfolio.

It truly captures all fields, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary work to achieve a goal. We were so pleased to be able to support him and take inspiration from everything he’s done.

Dr Jon Rhodes
Psychology Lecturer at the University of Plymouth, who specialises in motivation

9 May 2025

Robin’s latest venture only adds to the long list of exploratory challenges across his lifetime.

Medical cover and logistics support was provided by the MSc Expedition and Marine Medicine programme team. From making the first two crossings of South America from East to West, and North to South, to leading the Royal Geographical Society’s largest scientific expedition to date by spending fifteen months in Borneo, the explorer is keen to preserve habitats and ecosystems worldwide.

Find out more

See Robin's challenge page

psychology student holding brain EEG cap

See courses and research in the Faculty of Health

Students on a boat explore the programme

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