Oakville historian Ray Peacock speaks at Milton Historical Society

MILTON, ON – Multi-talented Oakville historian Ray Peacock enthralled the audience on a recent cold winter’s night during Milton Historical Society’s monthly speakers’ series with his detailed telling of the race between Arctic explorers at the beginning of the 20th century to be the first to reach the earth’s North and South poles as well as navigate through Canada’s North West Passage.

Deploying his skills as a much sought after model ship builder and restorer, complemented by a detailed presentation using numerous historic photographs, maps and engineering drawings, Ray shared the daring exploits of famed Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and all of his eventual achievements — first to reach the South Pole, first to reach the North Pole by airplane and first to navigate through the North West Passage.

Ray also shared what were ultimately tragic attempts by others, most notably British explorers John Franklin and Robert Scott, to do the same.

Topping off Ray’s entertaining presentation was one of his many model ships — this one a faithful representation of Amundsen’s Gnoa.