Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

species; gentoos were disporting in the water and large numbers of albatrosses flying
and sitting on the sea. The southern end of the island was denuded of vegetation
and also held bird colonies, including black- and blue-eyed-, shags. We saw a few
sealions, but no obvious colony. The east coast had steeper shores and fewer bird
colonies. The southern end of the island had a number of striking square-sided
stacks with horizontal weathered strata and vertical cracks; there were some natural
arches too.
After drifting overnight we sailed past Sealion Island and passed between Lively
Island and the main East Falkland land mass to Choiseul Sound. In the lovely sunny
weather there were many birds: including albatrosses, terns (in large flocks), skuas,
logger ducks and shags. A backdrop of low-lying land with brown and green old
tussock grass and cloud-covered hills. James Lord flew to Darwin to check on
arrangements for a detached survey party. In the evening the Mess Dinner was held.
The officers wore very colourful mess dress, the Royal Marines a very colourful
scarlet - even I wore a red bowtie and DJ borrowed from Tom, the First Lieutenant.
It was a very good dinner party with some horseplay. I got to bed at 2 o’clock, after
episodes with thunderflashes in the pineapple water-jug!
We went in to Stanley Harbour next morning, 13 March, on a bright, sunny,
windy day. I went ashore with Jim and Dierdre in the launch and we took the
maroon taxi to Government House. I had talks in the morning with John
Massingham (Chief Secretary) and walked along to the BAS Office in the afternoon
for a talk with Myriam Booth (BAS representative) and then on to the Secretariat for a
discussion on philatelic matters with Guy Morrison (Deputy Secretary) and Henry
Luxton (Postmaster). I had known Henry since we wintered together at South
Georgia in l95l. Ted and Cath Needham came to dinner at GH; he was the Chairman
of Coalite, which owns the FIC. Talk went on until 2 o’clock in the morning - all
about island matters. Next day saw my departure and I had talks with Ian Stewart
(Cable and Wireless) and Ian Strange. The flight out was at 4 o’clock in a comfortable
F28 (Fokker). A young American biologist, Andy(?) Taber, a student of Burney
LeBouef's at Santa Cruz, California, approached me. He was currently working with
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Seattle, on bowhead and gray whales -
and he was interested in the possibility of working on the Falklands sealion.
Recently he had been on the yacht Compass Rose which had capsized on the way
from the Falklands to Peninsula Valdez, Patagonia. I caught the 6 o’clock flight from
Comodoro Rivadavia and arrived in BA at 8 pm, being met by Richard Gosney and
Ian Stocks. I was installed in the City Hotel by 9 o’clock, had a shower and went to
bed.
Next day, I went to the IAA at 11 o’clock with Richard. There I saw Roberto
Martinez Abal, Muller and Gimenez, also Brigadier Capitan (!) the new Director
Nacional. Then to the British Embassy where I had talks with Mr Peters
(Ambassador to Uruguay), the Naval Attaché, and the First Secretary (Andrew
Laurie). Finally to lunch at the Club Naval with Martinez Abal, Gimenez, Richard
Gosney and Andrew Laurie. I returned to the hotel to pack and flew out that
evening.
It had been an interesting and enjoyable trip of 39 days on which I added to my
store of knowledge in various fields, practical and scientific. I also enlarged my
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