Lorne off to Greenland to get his husky driving licence

THE day after he retired for the second time, self-confessed workaholic Lorne Brown found himself at home and at a loose end - so he picked up a copy of National Geographic magazine.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Mar 2010, 10:21 BST
Updated 10th Mar 2010, 14:03 BST

And the 78-year-old was so intrigued by an article about huskies and sledges that he was inspired to go to Ittoqqortoormiit in East Greenland and see how the mushers and Inuits live.

In fact he enjoyed his trip so much that he has now decided to go back next month - to get his Husky Dog Driving Licence while trying to raise 5000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

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Dullatur resident Mr Brown, of Dykehead Road, said: "My challenge starts in April when I go to Tasiilaq, East Greenland, in the Arctic Circle, where experienced guides, Inuits, tents and dogs will be waiting.

"To get the driving licence I shall be given instruction by Inuits on how to handle the dogs and sled, learn the calls and history of the unique Eastern Greenland huskies in the course of staying in a tent in conditions a bit colder than usual - down to -45oC at night.

"I'll be catching fish through a hole in the ice - or I don't eat - and learning to drive six husky dogs and a sled and qualify to co-drive a team of 10-16 dogs and a sled."

When asked what his family and friends think of this plan, the great-grandfather laughs when he says: "There's been a wide reaction - they think I'm nuts!"

To donate log on to http://www.justgiving.com/Lorne-Brown.

For full story see this week's News and Chronicle.