The South Georgia Association’s May 2025 Newsletter has been published.
It contains articles about:
The first ascent of Mt. Paget;
SG Association Summer event, 4-5 July 2025;
Updates on SG Association Bob Burton Awards;
Place names from Cook’s first chart, 1775;
Reports on 2024-25 Science on South Georgia;
Avian Influenza update;
Iceberg A23a approaches SG;
South Georgia organisations’ news roundup;
Wildlife highway through Tawny Gap.
Members’ paper copies will be in the post soon and the e-copy is online via the News menu above (If you need the password it will be emailed to members soon after publishing – it is the same as last time).
Older issues are free for anybody to download from the newsletters page of this website. (Now including last April’s Issue)
The SGA Online Talk of 17 January 2025, “Cook’s Landing – 250th Anniversary and Geology Fieldwork 200 Years On” with Bruce Mair can now be seen on our YouTube channel. You can see this, and our previous talks, on the SGA Video Recordings page via the Resources menu on our website.
The South Georgia Association’s April 2024 Newsletter has been published.
It contains articles about:
South Georgia and icebergs
SG Association and Friends of Scott Polar Research Institute event, July 2024, including Morag Husband Campbell Medal awards
SG&SSI emblem at Palace of Westminster
Reports on SG Association Bob Burton Awards
Captain James Cook, HMS Resolution, 17 January 1775
Place names at Stromness
South Georgia Government news
SGHT Update from SG
SG Government News
‘Antarctic Whaling – a case study in near extinction’ book
SG Association news, including new Chair.
Members’ paper copies will be in the post soon and the e-copy is online via the News menu above (If you need the password it will be emailed to members soon after publishing – it is the same as last time).
Older issues are free for anybody to download from the newsletters page of this website. (Now including last November’s Issue)
The Committee of the South Georgia Association has appointed Mrs Philippa Foster Back CBE to be its new Chairman in succession to Professor David Drewry, who is retiring.
Mrs Foster Back has a distinguished career in finance and business and numerous Polar connections. She is currently Chairman of the Antarctic Place-names Committee and has formerly chaired the Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute (FoSPRI), the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust and the South Georgia Heritage Trust. From 2001 to 2020 she was Director of the Institute of Business Ethics.
The President of the SGA, David Tatham, said: “We are delighted that Mrs Foster Back has agreed to become our new Chairman. She has a distinguished career in business and finance and many Antarctic connections. At the same time we are deeply grateful to Professor Drewry who has been our Chairman for fourteen years during which the activities of the Association have expanded considerably. He also saw us through the Covid years when our meetings and lectures had to go on-line.”
The handover will take place at a Committee meeting on 9 October 2024
The South Georgia Association’s April 2024 Newsletter has been published.
It contains articles about:
CA Larsen
The Quest and South Georgia
Endurance Expedition Polar Medal Donation to the SG Museum.
Shackleton Memorial in Westminster Abbey
SG Cemeteries Website rehosting
SG Scientific Research 2023-24
Salisbury Plain and Bay of Isles Place Names
SGHT Update from SG
SG Government News
SGA News
Bill Block Obituary
Members’ paper copies will be in the post soon and the e-copy is online via the News menu above (If you need the password it will be emailed to members soon after publishing – it is the same as last time).
Older issues are free for anybody to download from the newsletters page of this website. (Now including last April’s Newsletter)
On 20 July 2024 the South Georgia Association and the Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute will host a number of talks at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, followed by an evening Dinner at Jesus College. More details in the Events calendar.
While in Cambridge, you might be interested in a conference being run by the History of Geology Group: The History of Geological Discovery in Polar Regions, taking place on the preceding Tuesday and Wednesday. Dr Phil Stone (a South Georgia Geologist) is giving a talk about William Speirs Bruce and Spitsbergen (Svalbard). More details HERE
The South Georgia Association is delighted to announce the award of the Morag Husband Campbell medal for 2024 to Ian Hart, in recognition of his “outstanding and sustained support for the history, heritage and knowledge of South Georgia”
Shackleton Memorial Stone Dedication, Westminster Abbey, 15th February 2024
by SGA Chair David Drewry
On a surprisingly warm February afternoon the Princess Royal, accompanied by her husband, Admiral Timothy Lawrence, attend the ceremony to unveil the memorial stone in the South Cloister of Westminster Abbey to commemorate the life and deeds of Sir Ernest Shackleton CVO OBE.
The idea to have a plaque installed and for Shackleton to be thus recognised amongst the panoply of Britain’s famous explorers – James Cook, Francis Drake, Francis Chichester and Astronomer Edmond Halley, was the brainchild of Tim Winter RN and supported principally by the James Caird Society. Alexandra Shackleton was intimately involved in this initiative throughout the several years it required to obtain the necessary agreement of the Abbey and permissions.
At an early stage the SGA was invited to give its support and responded readily and positively with a donation £1500 towards the production of the Memorial Stone. This was crafted by Mr Will Davies who incorporated Connemara marble and Kilkenny limestone to reflect Shackleton’s Irish heritage (he was born in Kilkea, Co Kildare, on February 15, 1874). The stone is also inscribed with the names of Shackleton’s expedition ships and his family motto, “fortitudine vincimus” – by endurance we conquer.
The Dedication Ceremony commenced at 5pm in the Abbey with attendance by the Lord Mayor of London and HRH The Princess Royal and her husband. A number of invited guests, representing the family and a wide range of Shackleton interests, were present some having travelled from Ireland and parts of mainland Europe. David Tatham and David Drewry attend on behalf of SGA and Bob Headland was also there is a different capacity. Following the immaculately conducted Evensong, with singing by the choir of extraordinary purity that filled the massive Abbey with otherworldly sound, invited guests made their way to the South Cloister. Here the group gathered around the plaque covered by the Abbey flag. There were several short readings and tributes to Shackleton led by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle KCVO, including one read by the Hon. Alexandra ‘Zaz’ Shackleton. Thereafter the Princess Royal stepped forward to unveil the memorial plaque.
After a suitable time admiring this new addition to the Abbey, the guests made their way to the Jerusalem Chamber where at a Reception the HRH was introduced and spoke with them. Zaz Shackleton concluded this element of the Abbey ceremonies with a few words.
Later that evening there was a further and convivial gathering of the guests from the Abbey joined by other supporters, at the Royal Overseas League. It concluded what had been a most memorable and uplifting “polar” occasion.
Click a photo to see a larger version.
Memorial Plaque (courtesy Dean and Chapter of Westminster)In the Choir prior to EvensongThe hon. Alexandra Shackleton reading prior to the unveiling. Gathering in the Cloister, Princess Royal (left in light green dress).
