Babs made us laugh, cry but above all else feel hugely inspired by her incredible attitude to life, if this lady doesn’t make you want to go out there and give it a go – no one will”
Joan Purvis at the Inner Wheel annual conference (an audience of 3000 at the Bournemouth International Conference Centre) in 2004.
Babs Powell is best known for her time in the dance troupe Pans People. Babs danced from 1965 – 1975 with the group in an incredible variety of venues ranging from a weekly slot on BBC1’s Top of the Pops to entertaining British forces in Mombassa.
In 1974 she married actor Robert Powell and shortly after left Pans People to start a family. For many people her achievements up until this point would have been enough to last a lifetime. Not so with Babs!
In 2000/01 Babs sailed as a crew member on board VERITAS in the BT Global Challenge racing 33,000 miles around the world the “wrong way” - into the prevailing winds and currents. As a mother of two and complete novice sailor this was an enormous challenge for Babs, and her honest and frank speech covers the emotional rollercoaster that Babs rode through some of the most challenging conditions on earth.
In April 2003, , Babs went on to take part in the inaugural Polar Race, teams of 2 and 3 racing 350 nautical miles across the ice to the magnetic North Pole on foot and skis and pulling 120 Kg sleds. The race was organized by the famed explorer David Hempleman-Adams.
|
