Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

and alongside the Public Jetty at Stanley at 7 o’clock. There was a letter from
Maureen with photos.
I packed and then Ted Clapp called to take me to Government House where I
talked with the Governor, Toby Lewis, and arranged my air passage. Jean Lewis
gave me Shackleton's room, I had a pleasant lunch in GH and then walked to
Telegraph Hill behind, where there was a superb view of land and sea to the south; it
was clear and sunny, without much wind for a change. The views of the hills to the
west, including the Two Sisters and Mount William, were also good. Then I talked
with Ted Clapp about various BAS matters and cleared most of them up. Dinner at
GH was enjoyable and informal - shirt and slacks - with good talk and bed about 11
o’clock. After breakfast I first had a walk along the shore; there was bright sunshine
and not a breath of wind, so the reflections were perfect. At 9 o’clock Captain Collins,
CO Royal Marine Detachment, called to discuss the Turner letters [?]. I spent the rest
of the morning in the BAS Office and gave a talk to all the staff at 11.30 am, telling
them about the economies necessary: closing Stonington, possibly losing Biscoe if we
can't find additional work for her and of course the run-down of the Stanley
operation. They took it well but didn't ask many questions.
After a quiet lunch with Toby and Jean and more talks until 2.45pm HE and I
recorded an interview for "Visitors' Book" on the local radio - to be broadcast on 26
March. I thought it went off quite well. There was a visit from Mike Knight, Cable
and Wireless, to discuss their proposition [about providing better communications.]
He hadn't been well briefed so wasn't able to add much to what was known. I was
told that the Executive Council wished to be "wooed"; a decision was not expected
until May, after Crouch 's visit to Stanley.
I read some documents and then at 8 o’clock went with Toby and Jean to Canon
Hellyer's for dinner with Bishop Tucker (Buenos Aires). Also present was Sam
Bennett who had interesting memories of the old days, Monsignor Spraggan and
Mary Rose, the Hellyer's daughter. I discovered that the Bishop was a former
member of St Catharine's (Cambridge), so we swapped stories about the College's
characters. It was a very good meal. I was inveigled into reading the lesson the
following Sunday at Evensong. We got back to GH at 11.30 pm, Toby driving with
Jean and me in the back of the 'taxi'; the Governor's limousine was indeed a London
taxi.
Next day I interviewed various local staff who were concerned about their
position when changes were implemented. Some I was able to reassure, but others I
had to disappoint. Then along to the Biscoe where we were giving a drinks party at
12.30 pm. It went off very well, with some good snacks and a large turnout of
Stanley notables. The party didn't finish until 2.30 pm and I had a walk. At 7 pm the
Governor gave a drinks party in my honour at GH, followed by a small dinner party
attended by Malcolm, Ted and Jean Clapp and their house guest Pablo from Buenos
Aires and the Private Secretary, Pauline. It was pleasant and there was good talk at
our end of the table.
On another excellent day we went off in a Land Rover at 9.30 am to the Murrell
River for a morning's fishing. The track was a very rough one, but fortunately the
ground was firm after the long dry summer. We eventually came to a delightful spot
on the Murrell, where surprisingly was a flock of about 20 beautiful black-necked
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