22 NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2008
● Endurance passes one of two huge icebergs she encountered on
transit from Signy Island where she had picked up scientists who
were closing down their base for the winter
Picture: LA(Phot) Kaz Williams, HMS Endurance
AA long way long way
ffrroom homem home
TEN thousand miles, to be precise – as
remit is so large and complex,” explained Surg Lt 21st Feb 2008. Commander-in Chief Fleet-UK I was truly impressed by the professional
Britain’s second most senior admiral
Cdr Matthew Turner, the ship’s doctor. Navy. A once-in-a-lifetime visit for someone manner each and every task I witnessed was
discovered.
Admiral Stanhope had just 48 hours to understand in my position to ensure HMS Endurance conducted from fl ying, through survey to
that complex remit. He began with a visit to Blaiklock continues to contribute to Science and scientifi c support and equally by your people
Numerous Commanders-in-Chief Fleet have
Diplomacy in the Antarctic. conducting them.
attempted to visit HMS Endurance ‘in the field’ – but
Island, where BAS scientists are studying the long-
have been thwarted by distance and programmes.
term effects of climate change by analysing moss
The trip to Blaiklock done, the admiral was flown
The focus and enthusiasm for your
Luckily, the latter fell into place for Admiral
samples and the invertebrates which live in it. The
over icebergs and the odd minke whale back to
business was very obvious in all to whom I
Sir Mark Stanhope – but the distance remained
admiral was also shown some minute larvae which
Rothera, where he was met by Lt Stuart Long and his
spoke and the upbeat nature of your team
immense.
had been found for the first time – and which may
team who had been conducting surveys of the waters
was consequently of no surprise. It was great
CinC Fleet makes a point of getting around as
prove to be an entirely new species.
around the base.
fun.
much of the RN and RM as possible to hear the views
Blaiklock is home not merely to the humblest
Then it was into the BAS base for a tour of the
I know of no other CinC Fleet in the recent
of men and women on the ground, assure them their
things that God, in his wisdom, has put upon this
facilities – and especially the aquarium.
past to visit you in the Antarctic, although
deeds are valued, and to gain a better understanding
earth, but also to penguins, like much of the fringe
Thanks to the extreme cold and high oxygen levels
many have tried. I was most fortunate and
of the Senior Service’s manifold and varied global
of Antarctica. In Blaiklock’s case, it’s a colony of
in Antarctic waters, marine life here grows to giant
privileged that it all came together.
commitments.
adelie penguins and at this time of year, the birds are
proportions: a water louse can be as big as your hand, The admiral is not the only one to leave the ice.
None of those commitments adequately compares
moulting ready to spend the months of the austral
and water spiders and starfish are invariably huge. The Red Plum has completed her spell in Antarctica
with the unique mission of the Red Plum.
winter in the sea. After an evening back aboard Endurance chatting for this season now.
And so the admiral flew to 67˚S to the British
And Blaiklock is home too to an old research hut, with the ship’s company, Admiral Stanhope departed She will, however, remain in the Southern
Antarctic Survey base of Rothera to join the ice abandoned now save for fuel and supplies should any for his headquarters in Portsmouth. Hemisphere throughout the austral winter, including
survey ship in the shadow of a glacier. explorers or scientists become stranded on the island. And when he got there, he sent a signal to the paying a visit to South Africa, before resuming survey
“It’s hard to understand exactly what Endurance It also houses a visitors’ book with comments going Red Plum to thank the sailors and marines for their work around the frozen continent towards the end
does unless you see her in her area of operations – her back half a century. There is now a fresh entry: efforts: of the year.
● Just chillin’... A couple of seals loll about on a small
iceberg alongside a small colony of Emperor penguins
Picture: LA(Phot) Kelly Whybrow, HMS Endurance
0022_NN_Apr.indd 122_NN_Apr.indd 1 118/3/08 18:12:108/3/08 18:12:10
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