The British explorer, 82, who has not been seen in public for two years, has allegedly been admitted to a number of care homes under assumed names after a family rift involving his second wife, Louise Millington-Cotes.
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who → see → wife
Fiennes, who has Parkinson’s disease, is said to have been "unlawfully deprived of his liberty" and made to disguise his appearance to prevent him being recognised, as well as reportedly being banned from seeing friends or family.
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him → have → friends
"My family and I have known Ran for over 40 years and he is one of the most inspirational, remarkable – and kindest – of men I have known,” he said.
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he → know → men
Don, who recently announced he is leaving Gardeners’ World, went on: “And of course, other than personal affection, he should be enjoying the admiration and respect of the whole country after such a remarkable life and not kept hidden away from family and friends.
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he → announce → family
"If anyone can be called a national treasure it is Ran and I do feel that it is vital that the OPG urgently investigates his case and all the facts can be brought to light."
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facts → call → light
The Standard has been unable to contact Fiennes’ wife for comment.
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Standard → contact → comment
The Care Inspectorate Wales has been contacted for further comment.
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Inspectorate → contact → comment
Cheshire Police have said they are aware of the concerns regarding Fiennes and are satisfied he is living in an appropriate setting with suitable care, the BBC reported.
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BBC → say → care
They said there were "no immediate safeguarding concerns".
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They → say → ?
Stars like Bear Grylls, Ben Fogle and Joanna Lumley have also spoken out about the welfare of Fiennes, a legendary adventurer who was the first person to visit both north and south poles by surface means in the early 1980s and has been described by The Guinness Book of Records as "the world's greatest living explorer".
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who → speak → explorer
Survivalist Grylls declared “Ran, we are coming!” and called him a “true British icon”, adding that reports of his isolation and treatment in care homes were “deeply disturbing”.
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reports → declare → homes
Fiennes’ stepson Alex Millington-Cotes told BBC Newsnight he wanted to see the power of attorney "removed from my own mother" and placed in the hands of people who "have fully his best interests in mind".
"He's not an isolated type of person, and so to see him isolated now is very painful," he said.
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he → tell → person
Fiennes’ former sister-in-law Arabella Pepper added that she has not been able to see him for over a year.
"All his friends and family want to see him and take him Toblerones and cheer him up, but we don't know where is, and he's not available, he's not accessible - that's what worries us," she told Newsnight.
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she → add → Newsnight
Pepper, who is the younger sister of Fiennes’ late first wife Ginny, recalled: "The first thing I said to him [last summer], apart from the usual greetings, was that everybody was worried about him, was looking for him, was longing to see him.
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everybody → recall → him
"The relief on his face was very obvious, and he said, ‘Send a message to everybody, send them my love, tell them I love them and tell them I'm longing to see them.’”
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I → say → them
Fiennes is said to have been moved to care homes in Wales and Cheshire in the past year under an assumed identity, but his current whereabouts are unknown.
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whereabouts → say → identity
The King was reportedly blocked when he tried to check on Fiennes’ wellbeing after being alerted to concerns about his declining health and isolation.
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he → block → health
Charles was left “most concerned” after fellow explorer Anton Bowring wrote to him in February last year asking for his help, The Telegraph revealed.
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Telegraph → leave → help
Bowring said Fiennes was “in a very poor state” and had been in the care of his wife Millington-Cotes since the previous September and that his friends were worried.
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friends → say → September
The King’s then-equerry Commander William Thornton contacted Bowring later the same month saying Charles wanted to write to Fiennes, Millington-Cotes and their daughter Elizabeth to express his concern and see if there was anything he could do anything to help.
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he → contact → anything
He also asked for Millington-Cotes’ phone number, but she reportedly fired off angry text messages to Bowring after Buckingham Palace was given her details.
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Palace → ask → details
The Aporia
