Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

about a mile offshore, where we were met by a group of nine king penguins
porpoising out to us. We could see the camp of Stone and Daynes to the south of
Cook Glacier and the geminis and launch went in about 8 o’clock to pick them up.
There was a moderate swell, but no problems. I could make out two herds of
reindeer (numbering about 40 and 12) m on the hillside. The glaciers here were
looking very dirty at the end of the summer. Heaney Glacier didn't reach the sea and
there was a narrow beach along the front of the Cook Glacier - so reindeer could
walk from north to south along the shore. The Cook Glacier itself was largely
moraine covered and easily negotiable. Unfortunately there was low cloud cutting
off the tops of the hills all the time we were ashore and as we left about 10 o’clock we
ran into a bank of fog.
We reached King Edward Point in mist and rain at about 12.30 pm. I had lengthy
discussions with Inigo Everson and John Bawden throughout the afternoon -
Bransfield arrived about 3 o’clock. With both ships in there must have been 130-140
BAS men altogether gathered there. There was a drinks party on Bransfield,
alongside at Grytviken, in the evening and I got to bed about 1.30 am. On 16 March
we held discussions most of the morning and I read some of the papers brought
down by John. In the afternoon I called a meeting of the Captains, Chief Officers and
Engineers and John to discuss the refit cycle and possible economies. It lasted 4 hrs
but was very productive. Biscoe threw a buffet party for the Bransfield wardroom and
the KEP Seniors. Tony Fogg and Otto Edholm, senior academic visitors, were in
good form, but what a peculiar man was Layng, the Chief Secretary, Falkland
Islands. He didn't make any move to talk or be sociable in any way. Next day we
had a series of meetings through the morning and it was a lovely sunny day -
frustrating indeed, but necessary. Tanner, Platt, Pawley and Ryding (Doctor) were
involved. After lunch I had a final talk with John on the economic situation and then
walked up to the base, looked around and talked with some of the biologists. I
discussed a psychology project with Otto Edholm. Also had to resolve a problem
about the Scandia generators and the Mirlees generator; the plan is to overhaul the
latter with the help of the ship’s engineers during Bransfield's next visit.
The weather deteriorated but we were given a good send off in the gloom, with
rockets and flares, and sailed about 6 pm. Our departure had been delayed because
Helmut Dillman (Third Engineer) collapsed in the engine room, with a suspected
coronary or pulmonary thrombosis. The plans were therefore changed, calls at
Husvik and Bird Island cancelled and the Biscoe set sail for Stanley. After dinner I
had a talk with Nigel Leader-Williams over the radio about his problems at Husvik,
where he now was. Immobilisation of the reindeer was proving difficult because his
crossbow and darts were not functioning very well. Then we heard that two crew
members of Bransfield were missing. It was thought that they might have stowed
away on Biscoe, so Malcolm had to institute a search (including the lifeboats, crow's
nest, - even my wardrobe! Next day the lost men were found at first light on South
Georgia! For the next three days the weather was initially rough, although we made
good speed; then although the wind dropped, there was still a big swell and the ship
rolled badly. It did get very tiring bracing oneself against being thrown around.
The weather steadily improved and we arrived at Port William at 2 am on 21 March,
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