This week, we had the pleasure of welcoming adventurer Louis Alexander to the Prep School, where he spoke to parents and captivated our Year 5 and 6 girls with stories of courage, determination, and global exploration.
Having met Louis in the lead-up to his visit, we sensed his talk would be something special, and it truly exceeded expectations. Louis is an adventurer in every sense of the word: brave, intelligent, and endlessly resilient. His passion for pushing boundaries and setting new goals was evident throughout his presentation.
The girls were fascinated to learn that Louis is one of the youngest individuals to complete marathons on all seven continents and swim across all seven seas. Most recently, he achieved his third world record in Australia, becoming the first person to run eight consecutive marathons in all eight Australian capital cities, in just 6 days, 23 hours, and 40 minutes. That’s over 330km of running, more than 6,000 miles of travel between cities, and a staggering 30ºC variation in climates!
Louis’ talk sparked endless curiosity, with the girls asking thoughtful questions, eager to learn more about the life of an adventurer. His stories were not only thrilling but deeply inspiring, showing the power of perseverance and self-belief. He spoke directly to some of the Prep School’s Eight Cs, particularly commitment, collaboration, and curiosity, encouraging the girls to embrace these qualities in their own lives, both in and out of the classroom.
Louis’ commitment to charitable causes and his self-supported expeditions are truly commendable. He continues to seek new challenges and ways to connect with sponsors who share his adventurous spirit.
If you feel inspired to support Louis’ journey, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Miss Smith.
To see more of Louis in action, click here to watch his interview on an Australian breakfast show.
Miss Smith, Senior Deputy Head
“Girls, parents and staff were all in awe of Louis Alexander last night as he told us all about his travels and adventures. Louis’s storytelling and purposeful message to the girls highlighted and echoed the Francis Holland values of being fearless and courageous, ‘giving it a go’, being responsible and never giving up. It was such an inspiring talk for us all, reminding us that we can be the best versions of ourselves and push on to fantastic achievements in spite of personal loss and grief at times. Louis’s adventures were themselves inspired by his family’s efforts and outlook on life. It was a heartwarming evening and a lovely opportunity to spend time learning with my daughters, Isabella and Sofia who joined from Francis Holland Sloane Square. Many thanks to the Prep School for organising – looking forward to hearing more from Louis in the future!” – Mr Lewis-Williams, Year 6 parent
