Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

geophysics data. The particular course requested by the geophysicists would add
about 7 hrs steaming, and I told Stuart to deduct it from the 5 days allotted to them.
The day was cold and raw, with low cloud and snow showers; it continued dull and
overcast. After lunch I interviewed Dave Marsh (Signy Diver) who was being pulled
out. He was stubborn, but it seemed that a clash between him and Dartnall was
essentially a clash of personalities. We had a long talk and I could appreciate his
sense of frustration. I had some of the ingoing Halley Fids up for drinks before
dinner: Phil Hart (Met), Andy Quinn (Physics), Roy Whitfield (Cook, with 2 previous
winters SG l973, Faraday in l974), and Steve Chambers (Ionospherics). There was a
signal from the Commandant at Bellingshausen (Russian Base) inviting me to pay
them a visit. I read in the evening, interspersed with visits to the bridge. Snow- and
Antarctic petrels accompanied us all day and lines of brash ice appeared - forerunners
of the pack ice. We passed through a few lines of very open pack ice during
the night and without losing time or changing course more than 20°.
I spent the next morning interviewing outgoing South Georgia Fids: Andy Moinet
(Met) and Bob Sanders (Physics). In the afternoon we drew up a provisional new
itinerary for the ships in case Biscoe couldn't get south to Adelaide. One whale was
seen about noon, species uncertain. Later I entertained four ingoing Halley Fids:
Ernie Thornley (BC and Diesel Mechanic), Ernie Johnson (Radio Operator), Dave
Patuck (Doctor and Met), and Steve Emery (Radio Operator). It was an interesting
group and we had a lively discussion. There was port after dinner and talk around
the table until 10 o’clock; I was up until 1 am working on the revised itinerary.
A fine sunny morning with a few bergs in sight and no pack ice. Luiz
commented: "There is more ice in the Amazon in the form of ice cubes than in the
Weddell Sea". Few birds around, snow and Antarctic petrels. The revised itinerary
went out. In the afternoon I spoke with Malcolm Phelps on Biscoe, who would try to
get in to Adelaide, but was doubtful about getting out! I also spoke with the BBC
team who preferred to miss Adelaide and have more time on South Georgia. I
entertained more Fids to drinks before dinner. They were a pleasant bunch and
more talkative than usual. Richard Jahn (Birmingham U. Geophysicist), Peter Biggs
(Postal Clerk, BAT), Andy Moinet (ex SG Met), and 'Fred' Freedman (Ex Faraday
Met). There was a film after dinner: "Hitler, the last ten days"; not very good and very
depressing. The clocks went on one hour that night as we headed east.
That evening we passed across a calm ocean with flat alabaster icebergs outlined
against pewter skies and sea. There was a great feeling of vastness and space, as we
sailed across the bottom of the world. Somehow the ocean looked bigger than usual;
the horizon was the same distance, but everything had great clarity and so it
appeared different. Next morning 22 January we entered the pack ice, relatively
light, rotten floes, but beautiful all the same if in a different way. There were a few
crabeater seals, penguins and two emperors to be seen and during the course of the
day about 20-30 whales were sighted. That morning I sat for a pencil portrait by
David Smith in the super-fiddery, receiving a succession of visitors to talk about
signals - Roy, Eric and Hugh O'Gorman. I was called up to the radio to talk with
Malcom on the Biscoe.. The area south of Argentine Islands seemed clear of ice and
he wanted to proceed south as soon as possible. (Later I learnt that they had
managed to get into the Argentines and commence unloading). Fred Fredman came
to talk before lunch and afterwards I had another session with David on the portrait
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