Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

were serious reservations about its stability, even in relatively calm waters. Top
heavy, “vanishing angle”, offshore winds, no endurance, no heating, no facilities for
science etc. The expression “A camel is a horse designed by a committee” comes to
mind.
Against all my protests the vessel was forced upon us; she was named R/V Jane,
after James Weddell's small cutter and launched at Middlesborough docks by being
lifted by crane from the back of a lorry. She was christened by Anne Todd as she lay
alongside the quayside. Next the Board of Trade (confirming my own reservations)
refused to allow it to go to South Georgia under its own power and so it was to go as
cargo to South America and then in convoy with another vessel to South Georgia, in
case the fears proved to be well-grounded. Fortunately, on its way from
Middlesborough to Southampton its engine seized up and it had to be rescued.
Thus, eventually, it was made clear that the Jane was totally unsuitable for
Antarctic work. Good sense at last prevailed and it was given to the NERC Institute
of Marine Environmental Research at Plymouth. It did a few day trips in the Bristol
Channel, but these operations merely confirmed the concerns we had had and so it
was sold off.
In zoology in 1971 there was a change of emphasis to research on the very rich
and potentially important marine ecosystem. Ship-based benthic surveys began
around the South Orkneys and South Georgia – deploying grabs and beam trawls
from the John Biscoe, still a cargo ship. A long-term programme on krill was initiated
at South Georgia, the John Biscoe was converted for marine research and within a few
years BAS became a leading player in the international BIOMASS Programme.
In l972 I participated in the international Conference on Antarctic Seals held in
London, 3-11 February, and was appointed chairman of the ad hoc scientific
committee. Afterwards the UK Delegation was invited to lunch at the Russian
Embassy, Kensington Palace Gardens - or at least four of us. We had been allied with
the Russian delegation in opposing the wishes of a particularly arrogant, boorish
and bullying American "roving ambassador", Donald L. McKernan; as a result the
Americans found themselves in a minority of 1, out of the 12 countries represented.
It was memorable from the moment I walked up to ring the bell at the side of
the massive oak door, was let into a large paneled hall and eyed appraisingly by
several heavy "bouncers" - large men wearing ill-fitting suits and heavy shoes.
Passing their scrutiny I was led upstairs past a number of 'heroic' soviet paintings of
workers and one of Lenin. It was all a bit James Bond in flavour. Four of our Russian
counterparts were waiting to greet us and the meal was in an attractively furnished
room. First we had aperitifs and then moved to a groaning table, covered with fine
linen, attractive china and silver, and flowers.
There was a long menu. Starting with three kinds of caviar in unlimited
quantities - red, white and black, we went on to fish, a large meat course, desert and
cheese. The several wines, white and red - from the Crimea - were excellent, and we
were offered superb Georgian brandy and cigars. A delightful touch was the several
attractive waitresses, dressed in colourful Georgian national costumes. Toasts were
exchanged repeatedly: "Za vashe zdarovye" (to your health), "Za Angliyu" (to
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