Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

Chapter 4
Director of BAS, New Challenges: 1973
to 1987
Retirement of Sir Vivian, September 1973
Bunny Fuchs retired in 1973, at 65 years of age having largely directed the
Survey since we returned from the Antarctic together in l950, apart from a break for
his Trans-Antarctic Expedition. During his 14 years as Director the Survey
underwent a transformation. With skill and vision he had guided BAS from its
political origins and emphasis on geographical exploration to become a front-rank
Antarctic research organization. By the time of his retirement the Survey was one of
the larger bodies in the NERC; its organization, its efficiency and its costeffectiveness
in an expensive field of endeavour, were the envy of most other
countries engaged in such work. In 1958 there were 26 field staff in FIDS and the
budget was c. £250,000, (equivalent to about £3.4 million at current prices (check),
including the ships’ running costs. When he returned from TAE in 1958 there were 54
scientific and technical field staff and 12 bases. By 1970-71 the total complement
wintering in the Antarctic was 92, included 45 scientists, surveyors, meteorologists.
By 1973 the permanent UK staff totaled 53, a number that was augmented each
summer by the influx of contract staff being trained prior to Antarctic service, others
writing up their results and additional secretarial staff. On his retirement from BAS
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