INSIDE THIS ISSUE: SUPPORTING POLAR From the Institute – page 2 SCIENCE AND HERITAGE Summer Lunch – page 3 www.spri.cam.ac.uk/friends New Membership Changes – page 3

ISSUE 075 / SPRING 2015 Loyal readers since 1996

Photo © Kyostia

Maritime Mystery Unfolds - Poignantly the bronze bell has been recovered and discovered to be The Bell Tolls! Written by Angie Butler embossed with a ‘broad arrow’ HMS Erebus and its sister ship, The 129-person crew abandoned the ships indicating property HMS Terror, set sail on May 19, and all perished, succumbing to hunger and HMS Erebus Bronze Bell of the Crown, and 1845, under the command of Sir John freezing temperatures. It is suspected that they the date ‘1845.’ The bell would have struck Franklin in search of the Northwest may have resorted to cannibalism to stay alive. every hour to announce the passage of time. Passage. They were last seen in Numerous search parties have failed in A ship that played a key role in the finding of August 1845 entering , when finding the ships, which could reveal the HMS Erebus was One Ocean Expedition’s it is believed that the two vessels fate of Franklin’s fabled voyage. That Akademik Sergey Vavilov, the vessel that became trapped in Arctic ice. is until this past summer when the 2014 took the Friends in November to Expedition team located one on the Shackleton Centenary voyage. of Franklin’s historic ships, HMS Erebus, and thus solving one of the world’s greatest DID YOU KNOW? archaeological mysteries. SPRI holds an important collection of The expedition, led by Parks Canada, brought together the Government of books and manuscripts relating to Canada and an unprecedented number Franklin’s ill-fated 1845 voyage. We have of organizations from public and private been delighted to work with the staff of sectors. With state-of-the-art technology and Parks Canada who have been conducting 19th century oral testimony, one of the research in our archives in preparation for Unsigned watercolour of HMS Erebus and HMS most important maritime mysteries is now the hunt for Erebus and Terror. Terror, setting out on the Franklin expedition,1845 from The Polar Museum’s collections. (SPRI N: 972) unfolding.

Thank you to One Ocean – for this month’s generous sponsorship www.oneoceanexpeditions.com Welcome News & Views

Welcome to From the Institute our Spring A few words from Director Julian Dowdeswell Polar Bytes Email: [email protected] newsletter I was in Longyearbyen in Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, to witness the wonderful natural We’re now firmly into the Shackleton phenomenon of a total eclipse of the Sun. Centenary (by this stage Endurance had Although a partial eclipse was visible on been icebound for about ten weeks). 20 March from many parts of northwest Europe, totality was only viewable from Our recent committee meeting really slivers of land through Svalbard and the developed our plans for the year - we are Faroe Islands. There was a discernible restructuring our membership categories change in the light as totality approached Above: Julian Dowdeswell photographing the total at 11 am, preceding a wonderful view of eclipse of the Sun in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen. to be more attractive to new joiners the corona for just over 2 minutes at full Right: The corona around the Sun, viewed in Arctic and to simplify fee payments. Our 2015 eclipse. The clean air of Svalbard and, Svalbard during a total eclipse on 20 March 2015. lecture series is under way – my thanks fortunately, a crystal clear day at about data collected in both the Arctic and to Colin Summerhayes and minus 20 degrees Celsius, made the whole . UNIS is an excellently equipped event very memorable. research centre, to which a number of Stephen Pax Leonard, our first two undergraduate and graduate students from I was in Svalbard for about a week, excellent speakers. the UK and elsewhere, come each year for working with colleagues at the University lectures and field classes in the archipelago Centre on Svalbard (UNIS) as chief editor and its surrounding seas. I have taken part Meanwhile, the intrepid survivors of the forthcoming ‘Atlas of Submarine in this programme for many years and of the Akademik Sergey Vavilov are Glacial Landforms’. The papers we several of the Institute’s research students were working on are based on our field keeping the memory of the Shackleton have also benefited, widening their research aboard Norwegian and British experience and expertise through studying Centenary Expedition Cruise alive with research vessels, using marine geophysical the Arctic directly. a plethora of emails, photo, videos and evening lectures across the country. News from the Heritage Collections After a challenging flight from From the Archives Manager, Naomi Boneham Brize Norton (the Email: [email protected] are a long way south) our artist in The newest item expedition doctor Alexander Macklin. residence is firmly ensconced in HMS to come into the Now, the pages on ‘Geometry’, kept back PROTECTOR, recording the sights and Archive collections by the expedition’s physicist Reginald sounds of the Antarctica Peninsula in survived one of James have come into the collection, as a the most famous gift from James’ family. unique style; we will see Darren Rees’ Polar expeditions. At the end of 2014, work in due course. In 1914, when CUP celebrated their Endurance sailed polar connection with I look forward to seeing you at the for the Antarctic, an exhibition curated James’s Geometry pages on board was a Summer Lunch. by Meredith Hooper. from the 1911 complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica The SPRI archive was the 1911 edition Reginald James approached to lend one of the Encyclopedia Britannica, (Photo: Frank Hurley, of Reginald’s diaries SPRI P66/19/9A) published by Cambridge University which mentioned the Nick Lambert, Chairman Press (CUP). value he placed on those pages. We were Unlike the men, all of whom were rescued delighted when the family offered to return by Sir , the full twenty- the pages to Cambridge so that they could eight volume set did not survive (toilet paper be reunited with his papers and other was a much needed commodity!). However, Endurance collections here. a few fragments were retained and treasured The ‘Geometry’ and ‘’ pages will go by the men. Back in 2001, the Archive on display in the Polar Museum in May. 2 / 075 acquired the pages on ‘Scurvy’ kept by News & Membership Update

SUMMER LUNCH TICKETS NOW ON SALE! Politics, People and Penguins: One Governor’s Story WHEN: 20 June 2015, 12:30pm WHERE: SPRI, Lensfield Road, Cambridge

TICKETS: £27.15 each (£25 plus £2.15 admin fee)

Please join us for this Summer’s exciting get together, when our speaker will be Richard Ralph, former Governor of the Falkland Islands and Commissioner for South Georgia. You will have a chance to chat, over a light lunch with a glass of wine, with our 2013 Antarctic artist-in-residence, Emma Stibbon RA whose new work will be on display. Book your tickets online via Eventbrite at http://ow.ly/LrNHz or by contacting Celene Pickard at: [email protected]. All members and their guests are welcome – numbers are Top: Speaker Richard Ralph. Above: Kathleen Scott’s Sculpture ‘Youth’ in the SPRI gardens. limited to 85, so book early! LIMITED SPACES! BOOK TODAY!

Friends Membership - Important Changes – from the 1 September 2015

As a member of the Friends, you provide invaluable The 90 Degree Club support to the Scott Polar Research Institute, its The 90 Degree Club is open to those who wish to make a major collections and dynamic education and outreach contribution to the work of the Friends. A minimum donation of programmes. Last year alone, The Polar Museum was £6,000 entitles you to Individual Life Membership or £9,000 for enjoyed by 53,500 visitors and over 10,000 children Joint Life Membership (for two adults at the same address). Please benefited from school visits and workshops. contact Celene, Membership Secretary for details of benefits. From this September we are moving to a simpler annual Online payment facility subscription model. This reduces our administrative costs and A new online payment facility will be available from 1 September means that more of your subscription goes directly to supporting 2015. If your renewal date falls between now and the end of SPRI. Subscriptions will be due on 1 September each year. August 2015, you may still make your annual payment and your The new categories of membership are: membership will be valid until 1 September 2016. This only applies if you are willing to pay by cheque* or through an existing Individual membership £25 Bankers Order. For those not paying by Bankers Order, Celene will be in touch with a renewal reminder each month until the Joint/family membership £40 new system comes into effect. Reginald James (for two adults and any children up to 18 at the same address) (Photo: Frank Hurley, Under the new scheme, existing Life Members (including those £1,000 SPRI P66/19/9A) Life membership of the 80 and 90 Degree Clubs) will still be entitled to all of the Joint life membership £1,500 benefits that were advertised at the time of joining. (for two adults at the same address) If you would like any further information, please email the Membership Secretary on the special membership email: Student £10 [email protected] (18-25 yrs in full-time Higher Education) * Payable to The University of Cambridge There is still an option to provide an additional annual donation to the Friends of SPRI, which is always very welcome, and we ask that you let us know if your subscription or gift is eligible for Gift Aid. 3 Events Key Exhibition Study Student Lecture Special Dinner Meeting

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

General EVENT DATE: TIME: LOCATION: COST/BOOKING Shackleton and the Irish Irish Cultural Centre Connection– The lecturer is - Temporary HQ St Wednesday renowned Shackleton biographer, 7pm Paul’s Church Centre, FREE 13 May The Polar Michael Smith Hammersmith Explorers Dinner Broadway, London Saturday 16th May 2015 Summer Lunch £27.15 Lecture: Politics, People & 20 June 12:30pm SPRI (£25 plus £2.15 admin) The Dinner will celebrate the Penguins: One Governors Story Book online http://ow.ly/LrNHz spirit of Michaelmas Term Lectures Saturday and is being organised by FREE – 10 October, 7:30pm SPRI Lecture Theatre No need to book descendants of Saturday (£5 non members) Sir James Wordie. 24 October Friends of SPRI AGM Saturday 7 Address by David TBC SPRI Lecture Theatre TBC Hempleman-Adams, Explorer November To be held at The Hall, St John’s College, Museum events Cambridge CB2 1TP EVENT DATE: TIME: LOCATION: COST/BOOKING at 7.00pm A Victorian Polar Explorer Tuesday 28 6:00pm – http://victorian-polar-ex- Remembered: Vice-Admiral Tickets - £90 a head April 7:00pm plorer.eventbrite.co.uk Sir Shackleton’s Cat. A new 29th May For more information and 2pm downloadable booking form, interactive opera for children aged 2015, £5 adults, 7-11 and their families. 30th May 11.30am £4 children visit our website: Running time: 1 hour 2015 & 2pm www.endurance100.org The Lost Photographs of 10:00am – Until 30 Captain Scott 4:00pm FREE May THE SHACKLETON Tues-Sat CENTENARY FoSPRI Emma Stibbon: Drawing the 10:00am – THE POLAR MUSEUM greetings cards are now 11 June - 5 Polar Regions 4:00pm FREE on sale via the website. September Tues-Sat Blank on the inside so perfect Further information on the Museum events and exhibitions visit www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum/ for any occasion!

A note from the Executive Secretary COULD YOU HELP? We are looking for volunteers Any enquiries about membership (including to help transcribe manuscript subscription rates and renewals) should be sent to HOW TO CONTACT US? materials in the SPRI Archives. Celene Pickard, email: [email protected] Friends Secretary Please email: – Celene Pickard [email protected] NEW FRIENDS – A very warm welcome is extended to all Email: [email protected] if you are interested. new members. Tel: 01223 336 540 PASSING FRIENDS – We are sad to note the passing of Address: The Friends Office, Dr Michael Gilkes, who died on 22 December 2014. Michael Scott Polar Research Institute, was one of the founding members of the Friends, joining on Lensfield Road, Cambridge 1 January 1946 and will be much missed. CB2 IER, England

Edited by Heather Lane, Celene Pickard and Leona Gaine Murphy. Information correct at time of going to press. E&OE. Designed and printed by www.arliamdesign.co.uk Photographs remain the copyright of their respective owners.