John Earle

John Earle came to live here at Rowden 1n 1970 having lived near Dartmoor since the 1940s. he established the Dartmoor Expedition Centre while he was still working for B.B.C. television.

He had been presenting “Tom Tom” a children's programme “though you would have to be over 40 to have seen it!!” says John. He was the presenter of two television series of ten programmes about learning to climb (called Rockface) and canoe. Local west country people will remember his “Walks on Dartmoor” as well as “Earle's Islands” and “West Country Rivers” which were shown on Spotlight and his voyages around the coast in his old gaffer “Helen”, with Tony Soper as well as many other documentaries.

As an expedition cameraman John travelled to many of the great mountain ranges of the world such as the Himalayas, Baffin Island and Tierra del Fuego where he was on two expeditions with the great mountaineer and explorer Eric Shipton. For the past 25 years John has been leading treks in the Himalayas.

Running the centre for over 30 years has given John the opportunity to introduce a great many children and adults to his own love of climbing, walking and the great outdoors. He has thoroughly enjoyed being able to pass on his enthusiasm for these activities both here on Dartmoor and all over the world. He has written several walking guide books for the South West including Dartmoor published by Cicerone Press and Halsgrove Press.

Pauline Earle

Pauline has really enjoyed having the chance to work from home, and to bring up a family in such a lovely place. So many interesting people have come to the Centre, and so many of them have become good friends. 'Actually, it could be the animals that bring people back.' says Pauline. 'The dogs and cats have been great at making connections with children and adults alike.' Although most groups are self catering, John and Pauline share the cooking now if groups do want meals, and the smell of baking flapjack is often on the air.

Pauline now works as a counsellor with the NHS in Plymouth, this fits well with work at the Centre. For relaxation she prefers painting the tors to climbing them, and she has a wonderful collection of prints of her pictures for sale at the centre. She enjoys walking too, and has been with John to Nepal and skiing in France, but sometimes she wonders why they go away, 'It's so beautiful living here. We're very lucky'.