Warm welcome for Arctic visitors (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Warm welcome for Arctic visitors

THEY'VE gone from one extreme to the other as part of the world's first Arctic exchange programme.

And a group of four inuit children, who live just 300 miles from the North Pole, have been warming to life in the Cotswolds.

The pupils and their teachers from Quarmatalik School in Resolute Bay, Canada, arrived in Cirencester last week for the return leg of the exchange with Deer Park School.

The event, called the Legacy programme, has been organised by Cirencester-based Venture Challenge, which starts its renowned Polar Challenge race to the North Pole from Resolute every year.

And Venture Challenge managing director Tony Martin says the two trips have been a major success.

He said: "It is fantastic to be involved in this trip - this really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the students from Resolute, who never get the chance to experience some of these things again.

"Deer Park and the families have been wonderful hosts and without them this trip would not have been possible.

"Hopefully new international friendships and contacts that will last a long time have been made from this visit and Polar Challenge are proud to be involved."

The group arrived last Wednesday - two days later than planned as their aircraft couldn't take off due to blizzards.

But they were greeted by their new friends from Deer Park and met the Mayor of Cirencester, Norman Whereat, and other local dignatries the following day.

During their stay, the pupils, who are used to living in temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees, have visited the Corinium Museum in Cirencester; Longleat safari park; the internationally-famous home of Wedgwood pottery, where they painted their own plates; and London, where they took in sights including Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and the London Eye.

The group were due to enjoy a farewell meal at the Tunnel House pub in Coates tonight (THURS), which is run by Rupert Longsdon, a member of winning Polar Challenge 2005 team Hardware.com

The team gave a donation of £3,000 towards the Legacy Programme prior to this year's race.