Debra Searle After Dinner Sports Speaker
At the age of 30, Debra Searle has achieved more than most people would dream of achieving in a lifetime. A first class honours degree. Medals at World Championship level with the Great Britain Dragon Boat Team. Entrepreneurial success with the launch of two limited companies. Had her first book published. Successfully rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean, for which she received an MBE from the Queen and has sailed the Southern Ocean to name but a few. Debra, one of an identical twin, was born in Plymouth on 8 July, 1975. She completed the family line up. Robin and Christine Newbury now had four children - two boys and two girls. Debra grew up in Devon, England and attended Hazeldown Primary School followed by Stover School on the foothills of Dartmoor National Park. After school Debra's love of children and the outdoors led to her choosing to study a BEd in Physical Education and Art, majoring in Outdoor Education.
She graduated in 1997 with a first class honors degree and was awarded an honorary Masters from DeMontford University. Debra developed a passion for whitewater kayaking, rock climbing and mountaineering. As captain of the extreme white water kayaking club she led expeditions throughout the UK and spent her holidays climbing in the Alps in the summer months and teaching skiing in the winter. In 1997, Debra and Ex-Husband Andrew signed up for the Atlantic Rowing Race. After completing the row single-handedly in 2002 and having spent 111 days at sea offers came flooding in for further adventures. Debra next took up the offer of making an 'Extreme Lives' documentary for the BBC and chose to take part in the Yukon River Quest.
The fourth annual Yukon River Quest started in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada on Thursday, June 27, 2002, and travelled across Lake Laberge and down the Yukon River through remote Northern wilderness areas to Dawson City in the Klondike Valley - home of the world's last great gold rush. 31 teams took part from Germany, Ireland, England, Canada and the U.S. Debra was joined by a good friend and expert expedition cameraman Bruce Parry to undertake the gruelling event. Bruce has recently achieved huge success with his amazing BBC 2 series 'Tribes'. The following year (2003) saw Debra return briefly to rock climbing for a summer before turning her attention once again to ocean voyages in 2004/5. Working with a new sponsor Pindar, Debra completed the Southern Ocean Leg of the Global Challenge Round the World Yacht Race. Debra continues to work with Pindar and Offshore Challenges (Mark Turner and Ellen McArthur's Company). She is seeking a further project partner to support a significant and high profile sailing adventure.
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