Part I: Seals teeth and whales ears - Scott Polar Research Institute ...

about obtaining registration for the PhD degree on the basis of the work I had
done at Signy Island. (In the event the University was only willing to allow my
three years field work to count as three university terms; consequently I
needed nine terms of residence to meet the statutory requirement). [Also there
was really no one in Cambridge, or indeed in Britain, doing research similar to
mine, which was a great disadvantage. I visited people like Harrison
Matthews and Richard Harrison, who were studying seal reproduction, mainly
on British seals. But they were not very helpful, rather assertive and cliquish, a
bit of a “closed shop”.]There were not even contemporaries as research
students, with whom I could discuss my work in depth. In St Catharine’s at
that time there were only about ten research students, in a variety of
disciplines, none closely relevant. So I really rather found myself on my own.
But I was enjoying the work, exploring the literature (at that time rather limited
and anecdotal), and the satisfaction of making interesting new discoveries.
Research I learnt was 90% foot slogging on the plains and occasional ascents to
the peaks of excitement.
I was now planning to leave for South Georgia in October. Base M, King
Edward Point, South Georgia was to be set up in Falkland Islands Government
buildings, originally built for the Discovery Investigations in l925, and part of
the Falkland Islands Dependencies Meteorological Service would be located
and accommodated there. I was to be the Base Leader and responsible for a
dozen men, including meteorologists and a weather forecaster for the whaling
industry operating from the island. The Magistrate was to be Ken Pierce-Butler
(earlier Secfids) with his own establishment of Police Officer, 2 Customs
Officers, Radio Operator and engineer, handyman and a Cook, some of whom
would mess in the new FIDS base (M). The Magistrate had a palatial bungalow
and there were houses for some of the other staff. Other structures to be
maintained were a Customs House, Post Office, Gaol, Radio Station, with
generators providing electricity for the small community, storage sheds, and a
billiards/table tennis room for recreation.
I was due to leave in October, but there was a hitch. Miles Clifford
reneged on his agreement with me to increase my salary. At stake was only £40
a year (equivalent to c.£800 in the year 2002), but a principle was involved and
I stood my ground. I knew that I had more than proved myself and given good
value by the work I had already accomplished. Letters and telegrams were
exchanged; it was bureaucracy gone mad! Eventually the Colonial Secretary,
Creech Jones, intervened, sending a curt telegram to the Governor instructing
him to make up his mind on the matter. I suspected that Brian Roberts had
something to do with this. Most of the simple scientific equipment and stores
that I had been purchasing during the summer had already gone south on the
John Biscoe by the time the issue was resolved in my favour.
But, eventually agreement was reached and I made my final preparations,
had a week or two with my parents in Northumberland and made my
farewells to my lovely Maureen. Departing in mid-December I flew with
BOAC from Heathrow (North), then a series of draughty, dilapidated
buildings. The plane was an ‘Argonaut’, twin-engined, propeller-driven in
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