SHARK attacks, sleeping with scorpions, and tackling the world’s highest mountains were some of the memories shared with a packed Churcher’s College audience by TV presenter, adventurer and author Monty Halls.

Monty had been invited to speak as part of the Grill Lecture series, named after former Churcher’s religion and philosophy teacher Judy Grill.

He talked about overcoming challenges in some of the most inhospitable parts of the world, encouraging the audience of parents and students to grasp every opportunity life throws at them with two hands.

Funny, humble, and good at foreign accents, Monty motivated and challenged the audience – although he did claim his dog Reubens, his companion on the TV show Great Escapes, remains the better known of the pair.

The timely talk by the author, expedition leader, biologist, travel writer and president of the Galapagos Conservation Trust, comes in advance of a Churcher’s College expedition to the Galapagos and Ecuador in the summer.

Students who have signed up for the expedition, staff members and Judy Grill enjoyed the opportunity to meet Monty before his talk, to discuss the trip to the Southern hemisphere in more detail.