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Home , Aeneas Mackintosh, Francis Crozier, Frank Wild, Ross Sea party, Shackleton (TV serial), South (book)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: S U P P O R T I N G P O L A R A Polar Safari – page 2 SCIENCE AND HERITAGE Out of the Shadows– page 3 www.spri.cam.ac.uk/friends Takes the Biscuit – page 3

ISSUE 085 / AUTUMN 2017 Loyal readers since 1996

© Ice Tracks Expeditions -

UPDATE Join us on a 19th century Our new membership

S U P P O R T I N G P O L A R SCIENCE AND HERITAGE voyage of www.spri.cam.ac.uk/friends speaker on Polar At this years AGM, award-winning A big thank you to all journalist Michael Smith, will give a exploration. our members who fascinating talk on 19th century Polar He has written have returned their nine books and From the to the explorer Captain . new membership you too can make a difference. Join us. appeared in The Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute forms your support is Captain Francis Crozier was a TV and radio very much valued. major fgure in the three epic documentaries If you haven’t yet done so, please quests of 19th century Polar and lectured at many prestigious venues. exploration – navigating the could you join the new improved Tickets cost £10 each and include a glass of scheme as soon as possible. Annual North West Passage, reaching wine and nibbles. Please see enclosed leafet on subscriptions can be done online or the and mapping how to book or email [email protected] by flling in the new form. Standing . He sailed on six orders, must be reset up again by voyages of discovery with We look forward to seeing you on the flling in the new form only and Parry, Ross and Franklin. 11th November. cannot yet be done online. Michael Smith is a former award-winning Images left to right: Captain Francis Crozier, the only More leafets can be ordered journalist with The Guardian and The photograph taken in 1845 before departing on the doomed Franklin expedition; Painting by Arctic explorer, from the Friends offce. Observer and an established writer and Julius Payer.

Thank you to Argos Froyanes for their generous sponsorship Welcome News & Views

Welcome to From the Insttute our Autumn A few words from Director Julian Dowdeswell Polar Bytes email: [email protected] newsletter Since the start of summer I’ve been to both Greenland and Svalbard. In the beautiful town of Ilulissat on the West Things have settled to a steady canter Greenland coast, at the request of the UK Hydrographic Ofce, I gave a talk The ice-choked harbour at Ilulissat for the FoSPRI and the team at in West Greenland. about UK work on mapping the seafoor the Institute. 2018 will be a year of of the Arctic at an International Maritime contributor of icebergs into Bafn Bay. In bumper events including the second Workshop. The harbour at Ilulissat is Svalbard, I gave several student lectures iteration of the APTL when we will especially impressive with its plethora of at the University Centre in Longyearbyen small boats surrounded by remnants of celebrate the life and achievements and continued working on several scientifc the huge icebergs that are calved from the manuscripts. During September in of Charles Swithinbank, another nearby Ilulissat or Jakobshavn Glacier. Svalbard, at almost 80 degrees North, I exhibition at Bonham’s in the summer This glacier, which has a velocity of more could see the days shortening over the week and an exciting foray to Greenland than 10 km per year, is one of the most I was there, and several snowstorms also marked the rapid onset of autumn. and the Arctic courtesy of One Ocean rapidly moving in the world and is a major Expeditions and Ice Tracks. More details of the programme can be seen News from the Heritage Collections elsewhere in Polar Bytes. Naomi Boneham SPRI Archives We continue to focus on building the contact [email protected] general membership of the Friends and I’m pleased to report that our funding is in great shape. Importantly, we are A Polar Safari keen to attract volunteers to serve Each year sees an event called Open Cambridge where buildings around the on the committee as several current city open their doors to the public for members approach the end of their events and behind the scenes tours over a time so please do let us know if you’re weekend in September. interested. Over the past few years the library and archive have joined together to ofer talks The next event is of course the AGM and behind the scenes trails. This year we took the theme of Animals at the Poles and in November when we will tell you all our library team devised a Polar Safari. about our plans… we look forward to For those brave enough to venture forth seeing you there! Library Assistant Martin French ready with just a rough map to guide them a to greet visitors to the library

series of way stations provided information on the native and non-native animals to be found in the polar regions. From fnding out if polar bears are left handed Nick Lambert, Chairman (or should that be pawed) to the diference in bone structure for penguins (theirs are not hollow. This aids them in swimming by reducing their natural buoyancy) the safari took in everything from scientifc studies to children’s stories. Just over 60 people took the safari - I am told that all returned safely.

2 / 085 News Out of the shadows Writen by Angie Butler party memorial The men of Shackleton’s Plaque was unveiled at 40, Connaught Road, have been brought out of the shadows Harlesden, London in honour of his great again thanks to the eforts of Aeneas uncle. Mackintosh’s irrepressible octogenarian Debby Horsman, whose great-grandfather granddaughter, Anne Phillips. was Spencer-Smith’s uncle, ensures his name The Ross Sea expedition, a tragic tale of self- burnishes brightly having given some 100 talks sacrifce by men who heroically laid depots for to date that raise funds for the Institute. Last what they believed was Shackleton’s advancing year a centenary memorial service for him was Rev. Arnold party ended in the death of , held in the Edinburgh church where he was Spencer-Smith and the Rev. Arnold Spencer- ordained. Smith in 1916. Hayward’s death was followed 30 days later by that of his younger brother Stanley, ‘For what is the worth of a human life, unless it is woven at Passion Wood in Belgium. Mackintosh’s memorial which he shares with his into the life of our ancestors by the records of history’. mother Annie and two brothers in the churchyard Cicero of St John, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, had fallen into disrepair but with Anne’s persistence, it is now put to rights. On the 27th September 2017 His was she was joined at the graveside by Peter, Victor recently gifted to Hayward’s great nephew, and Debby Horsman, SPRI. the closest living relative of Spencer-Smith. Diana Cohen-Robinson who had met Anne on Shackleton’s Centenary voyage to Antarctica in 2015 few especially from San Francisco for Aeneas Mackintosh Image above left to Right: Jeremy Tilley (stonemason who restored the grave); the occasion. The Mayor of Burgess Hill; Mark Venning (grandson of Aeneas Mackintosh); Anne Phillips (grand-daughter of Aeneas Mackintosh); Diana Cohen Robinson Last year Peter Hayward (friend from San Francisco); Debby Horsman (relative of Rev Arnold Spencer Victor Hayward saw the fruit of his Smith); Terry Horsman, husband of Debby; Rev Kevin O’Brien, Vicar of St endeavours when a Blue John’s, Burgess Hill. Shackleton Auction Takes the Biscuit Writen by Leona Gaine Murphy

As once recorded what a journey this little Huntley & Palmer & Mason, “Thousands of pounds would not have gem would take me on. It captured so many where it even bought that biscuit” when Shackleton people’s imagination that all and sundry sparked the shared a vital biscuit with him. wanted to welcome it home, so in the end I did archivists interest! At Christies in London, September 2011, not collect it for 6 long years until Christie’s She’s had an epic I bought a Shackleton biscuit rescued from issued their fnal collection notice. journey. Like Tom the hut at Similar to Wild, the biscuit has come to Crean she seems dating from the symbolise generosity, friendship, collaboration unbreakable! Expedition and most of all the power of the imagination. 1907 - 1909 for My fellow adventurer Jill Dawes and I took the Images left to right: Vice-Chair Leona Gaine & Jill a princely sum. biscuit from the warehouse into the home of Dawes collecting the biscuit; A sledge to go home Little did I know all fne biscuits in London, the grand Fortnum on; Spot the biscuit in the picture!

3 Events Key Exhibition Study Family Lecture Special Voyage Meeting

Please visit: www.spri.cam.ac.uk/friends/events FoSPRI dates for the diary for further details

General

AHOY THERE EVENT: DATE: TIME: LOCATION: COST/BOOKING: Friends AGM £10 - talk only FRIENDS! 11 Nov 3.15pm SPRI Lecture (Doors open at 3pm) (members and 2017 Theatre Friends of SPRI fund Followed by AGM talk and Fundraiser 4pm non members) raising voyage! Antarctica talk organised by £10 each Greenland & Journey Latin America with British polar 29 Nov 6pm - Book online RGS, London Baffn Island explorer Felicity Aston MBE. 2017 9pm www.jla-antarctica. 03 – 17 September 2018 ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO SPRI eventbrite.co.uk/ St Patrick’s Day Lecture Sat 17 A few cabins remaining! 4.30pm - SPRI Lecture March FREE Join our Director Prof. ’s Antarctic Explorers by 5.30pm Theatre 2018 Julian Dowdeswell Michael Smith Gilbert White and Executive Secretary Friends Spring Event 12 May TBC Museum, Details to follow Celene Pickard on a once Visit to Gilbert White Museum, Selbourne 2018 Selbourne in a life time voyage... Annual Polar Tribute Lecture 11 July For more information 7pm RGS, London Details to follow Tribute to Charles Swithinbank by 2018 contact Sir [email protected] Friends Voyage 2018 3 – 17 Baffn Island Contact TBA Baffn Island & Greenland Explorer Sept 2018 & Greenland [email protected] EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS FOR A LIMITED Museum events Further information on the Museum events and exhibitions TIME ONLY! visit www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum/ COST/ EVENT: DATE: TIME: LOCATION: SPRI Christmas cards BOOKING: Uummannaq The new SPRI Christmas FREE card will be on sale from A century of exploraton in Greenland Until 22 10am - the beginning of November. Shackleton: Life and Leadership December 2017 4pm Price starts at 99p!

Sir ’s Imperial Trans- MUSEUM FREE BUY ONLINE: Antarctic () Expedition POLAR THE www.spri.cam.ac.uk/shop/ GEORGIA ASSOCIATION SCIENCE EVENT On the 10th November, the South Georgia Association is holding an event ‘New and future science from South Georgia and the surrounding seas’. Presentations, by scientists and others actively involved in research, will be pitched to share their knowledge and expertise relevant to the Island. A full day of superb events ending with a sit down dinner in the ice-breaker! For more information visit the South Georgia Association website: www.southgeorgiaassociation.org/events.html

A note from the Executive Secretary HOW TO CONTACT US? We are delighted with our new and improved membership scheme. Thank you to all our Friends Secretary – members who have returned their forms and renewed their membership, your support is very much valued. However, there are many who still need to do so, so please could you join the new Celene Pickard improved scheme. Annual subscriptions can be done online or by flling in the new form (a copy of which was Email: [email protected] sent to all Friends). Standing orders, must be reset up again by flling in the new form only and cannot yet be Tel: 01223 336 540 done online. We very much look forward to hearing from you - thank you so much. Address: The Friends Offce, NEW FRIENDS – A very warm welcome is extended to all new members. Scott Polar Research Institute, Lensfeld Road, Cambridge PASSING FRIENDS – We are very sad to note the passing of Alastair Bremner and Shirley Balgobin. We extend our condolences to their families. CB2 1ER, England

Edited by Angie Butler, Susan Rose & Kristy Jones Information correct at time of going to press. E&OE. Designed and printed by Arliam Design – www.arliamdesign.co.uk Photographs remain the copyright of their respective owners.