CANADIAN adventurer, author and speaker James Raffan is set to appear at Dunfermline’s Carnegie Hall next Wednesday to discuss life in the Arctic Circle.

Raffan will take part in the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s ‘Inspiring People’ public talks programme this week with an illustrated talk that promises to amaze and inspire audiences in equal measure.

Raffan, who is from Ontario, will speak about life in the Arctic North and how the societies and landscapes in this extreme climate are being affected by enormous and irreversible changes to our planet.

Dave Hadfield, the Canadian singer-songwriter, said, “James Raffan is that marvellous amalgam: the soul of a poet, the stage presence of a born raconteur, and the painstaking accuracy of a professional historian. When he makes a presentation his photos captivate you, taking you to another time and place. He interweaves imagery, music and storytelling in a way that is engaging, entertaining and in a wonderful way quite educational. He has the relaxed stage presence of an experienced entertainer and leaves the audience always wanting one more story.” The ‘Inspiring People’ public talk series run by RSGS takes place from September to March. The programme showcases the best speakers from the worlds of exploration, extreme sport, photography, film-making, television, academia and science with the aim of not only allowing audiences to hear the inspirational stories of speakers but to also inspire the audiences themselves to learn more about the world around them.

Raffan will be speaking in the Carnegie Hall, East Port on 4th February at 7.30pm. Tickets are available on the door and cost £8 or are free to RSGS members. www.rsgs.org/inspiring-people