Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

England), "Za CCCR" (to the USSR) and "Za vashu Karolevu" (to your Queen). The
meal went on for hours, the conversation was interesting and there was no need of
translators. Eventually we staggered off in our various directions.
This conference was a considerable coup for our two delegations, for it was the
first rapprochement since Sir Alec Douglas Hume had expelled 105 Soviet
intelligence personnel from Britain (Operation Foot), and the lunch marked that
achievement as much as the alliance against the Americans (who were just being
silly). It was a good example of the value of the Antarctic political connections to
break a log-jam caused by more serious events. This was to happen later in
connection with other Antarctic Treaty parties, notably Argentina.
Retirement of Sir Vivian Fuchs in 1973
During Bunny’s 14 years as Director the Survey underwent a transformation.
The greatest difficulties were experienced in the first half of this period, when the
future of the Survey was in doubt until CSP came down in favour. The second part
was in the nature of a ‘honeymoon’ with NERC, when each partner was learning
about the other. With skill and vision he had guided BAS from its political origins
and emphasis on geographical exploration to become a front-rank Antarctic research
organisation. By the time of his retirement the Survey’s organisation, its efficiency
and its cost-effectiveness in an expensive field of endeavour, were the envy of most
other countries engaged in such work. But it was still far from as efficient and
productive of science as it was to become. On his retirement from BAS in 1973 the
total staff was some 350 and the annual budget about £1.5 million (about £11 million
today. At times the survival of the Survey had been in doubt, but he successfully led
the organisation through the transition from the aftermath of the ‘heroic age’ of polar
research, through the change from static observatory science and essentially
geographical exploration, towards the modern era of global science, when the
Antarctic is increasingly seen as a key component in understanding global
environmental problems. All this had come about through the energy and
determination of Sir Vivian, helped by the eminence he had achieved as a result of
the TAE. After the peak of achievement in l958 he made no more lengthy field
expeditions himself, but undertook regular Antarctic field visits, of a couple of
months, every 2-3 years.
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