Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

annual estimates and ‘Forward Look”. These officers comprised a very strong team,
with ‘political’ skills, and were dedicated to the Survey. They were located in the
London HQ and consequently had easier access to the Director than did most others,
which partly explained their strong influence.
I was more often discussing the political background and science plans with
Brian Roberts, Head of the Foreign Office Polar Regions Section, and his assistant
Ena Thomas. Brian was a tremendous enthusiast and a fount of information on all
matters polar – notably the Antarctic Treaty, which had entered into force in 1961,
international relations and diplomacy, international law, Antarctic science and
biological research, ornithology and conservation in particular, and polar literature. I
saw more of Brian than of the Director and HQ staff, and BAS scientists (other than at
Monks Wood) because Brian, a chubby, energetic bachelor in his late-50s, worked a
five-day week in London and two-days a week in Cambridge, based at the Scott
Polar Research Institute. I used to see him at the institute many Saturday mornings
for an hour or two, when we explored a very wide range of topics. He had an
encyclopedic knowledge of all things Antarctic and was broadly influential. He
provided good advice and support, had his feet firmly ‘on the ground’ and was a
sounding board for ideas. Through these meetings I also came to realize early-on the
interplay between science and politics in Antarctic affairs. [It was Brian, of course,
who had recruited me to FIDS in 1947].
Monks Wood proved surprisingly useful as a base, because, although concerned
with terrestrial biology, conservation and management, the Nature Conservancy’s
remit, there was quite a broad spread of disciplines and facilities represented among
its staff and work. Kenneth Mellanby, the Director was a senior ecologist, with broad
experience of academia, biological research and conservation politics. He had been
President of the Institute of Biology, and he was always very helpful to the BAS
section. The biometrics and statistics advice available was very professional, chemists
were working on pesticide effects on wildlife and their laboratories were wellequipped,
there was a range of expertise on plant ecology and vegetation surveys,
forestry, invertebrate ecology and physiology, bird biology, small mammals. Well
known ecologists included Norman Moore, Eric Duffey, and others. What was not
represented was marine biology and ecology and freshwater biology, areas which
were the responsibility of other NERC Institutes. The BAS biologists, by their
adventurous nature, field experience, and attitude to life, were a breath of fresh air in
this relatively conservative Civil Service outpost. Tolerance was a little stretched by
some of our activities – for example Eric Twelves, a BAS fish biologist, kept two
ferrets and could be seen coming back from the Nature Conservancy Reserve during
lunchtime, with rabbits for the pot.
Quite early on my thoughts turned to the need for a structure for the Division -
in the form of sections – which was implemented following my return from my
1970/71 Antarctic visit.
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