Chairman’s report from AGM Nov 2026

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Over the past year, the Society has celebrated the anniversary of the Shackleton Memorial in Westminster Abbey and enjoyed fascinating presentations from Patrick Harkness on the Shackleton Lunar Rover Expedition and Ali Gellatly on the conservation of the RRS Discovery at our May dinner.

Progress continues across several important partnerships, including a youth sail training initiative, the forthcoming George Marston Exhibition at the Royal Geographical Society (January-March 2027), and the development of a new Photography and Leadership Award for young people in collaboration with the RGS, Magnum and the Elizabeth Lornie Trust.

We welcome the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust’s plans to mark the fifth anniversary of the discovery of Endurance at the RGS in March 2027 and are working with the South Georgia Heritage Trust on a major wildlife baseline survey following the successful rat eradication programme.

The Society is delighted to present the 2026 Shackleton Leadership Award to Aydin Meghani of Alleyn’s School, a member of the Southwark Schools Learning Partnership.

We look forward to an exciting programme over the next few months including The Antarctican in London in December, the Shackleton Memorial Service at Westminster Abbey on 15 February 2027, our May and November 2027 dinners at Dulwich College, and Dame Barbara Rae’s Charting South exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy (November & December 2026).

The Antarctican: A play about Apsley Cherry-Garrard

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Following on from her acclaimed play Shackleton’s Carpenter, the playwright Gail Louw returns with The Antarctican, a powerful new play examining one of the greatest stories of polar exploration: Apsley Cherry-Garrard’s Worst Journey in the World.

It is likely that many of you have a copy of Worst Journey in the World. It is the most widely published and acclaimed book to come out of the heroic era of Antarctic exploration.

Facing unrelenting weather and tortuous terrain, Cherry and his companions take enormous risks in the name of science and discovery. Surviving one arduous trek, the next one proves less fortunate. The Antarctican explores the heavy weight of one man’s survival in the aftermath of Captain Scott’s ill-fated quest to reach the South Pole.

Suffering from PTSD and survivor’s guilt, and haunted by decisions made on the ice that the world’s press erroneously claimed had cost Scott his life, Old Cherry confronts his younger Antarctican self.

The play is a compelling portrayal of adventure, camaraderie, survival and ultimately the price of heroism.

The play is on at the White Bear Theatre, 138 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4DJ from 1–12 December 2026. (The theatre is near Kennington Tube station, which is one stop from Waterloo Station.)

The Antarctican is proud to be sponsored by the Polar and Adventure Travel Company, Arcturus. The production is seeking additional donations and sponsors. If you think you can help please contact Brad Borkan at .

Dates for your diary

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6 November 2026: AGM, Lecture and Dinner, Dulwich College

Prof David Drewry, former Director of SPRI and BAS and recipient of numerous awards, including the Polar Medal, speaks on: The Risks and Hazards of Discovering Antarctica’s ‘Land Beneath the Ice’.

1–12 December 2026: The Antarctican, White Bear Theatre, London

The play is about Apsley Cherry-Garrard, author of The Worst Journey in the World. Special performance dates for James Caird Society members, guests and friends are 4 December (evening performance – already sold out), 10 December (matinee) and 11 December (evening). An additional James Caird Society date will be added.

11 January–31 March 2027: Exhibition – George Marston: Shackleton’s Expedition Artist, RGS, London

Sponsored and supported by the James Caird Society, the RGS and SPRI.

15 February 2027 (early afternoon): Annual Ceremony at Westminster Abbey

The ceremony will take place in front of the Shackleton Memorial and is exclusively for up to 30 James Caird Society members. Followed by an optional self-funded pub lunch.

14 May 2027: Lecture and Dinner, Dulwich College

Alison Neil, Chief Executive of the South Georgia Heritage Trust, will speak about the restoration of the Manager’s Villa at Stromness, where Shackleton, Crean and Worsley arrived after crossing South Georgia during the Endurance Expedition.

Committee news

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Long-standing committee members Dorothy Wright and Tim Winter have taken the decision to step down. Dorothy served as Newsletter Editor for many years, while Tim was Honorary Secretary. The committee would like to thank them both for their hard work, commitment and dedication to the James Caird Society and its ongoing work.

We would also like to welcome Jane Kang, who has taken on the role of Honorary Secretary.

A Real Feat of Endurance

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The Lego model of Endurance

You’re never too young to set off on a voyage of discovery!

Just look at what Arthur Kinniburgh-Duke, aged 9, has achieved. Arthur, grandson of former Dinner Secretary Andy Kinniburgh, recently completed constructing, on his own, this magnificent Lego model of Endurance. To mark his completion of the model, he was given a photo of the original world-famous vessel, which our President, the Hon Alexandra Shackleton, kindly signed for him.

Our President

Honours for JCS members

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Hon. Alexandra Shackleton, president of the James Caird Society, is among four JCS members to have been honoured with the King Charles III Coronation Medal by the Canadian Crown. Recipients have been deemed to have made a ‘significant contribution to Canada’ or ‘have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.’

Alexandra was honoured for her ‘leadership in advancing Polar heritage’, including for her JCS role and for her patronage of the Shackleton Quest Expedition which in June 2024 located the wreck of Sir Ernest’s last ship. David Mearns was honoured for his ‘leadership in underwater exploration and research’, and for his role as search director for the Shackleton Quest Expedition. (Mearns also received the OBE on the New Year’s Honours list). Expedition leader John Geiger, who serves as chief executive of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, also received the Coronation Medal, as did Antoine Normandin, research director for the Shackleton Quest Expedition and a board governor for the RCGS.

Congratulations to all four!

 

Alexandra Shackleton with John Shears (left) and John Geiger (right)

Shackleton in the news

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On the 150th anniversary of his birth, Sir Ernest’s achievements were honoured in a very special celebration in Westminster Abbey.  

Unveiling of Shackleton Memorial

Unveiling of the Shackleton Memorial by The Princess Royal, Princess Anne

Following the traditional Choral Evensong on 15 February a private dedication ceremony was held in the Abbey’s South Cloister, close to a memorial to other pioneering sailors – Captain James Cook, Sir Francis Chichester and Sir Francis Drake.

This iconic new Shackleton memorial was created by sculptor Will Davies and incorporates stones including Connemara marble and Kilkenny limestone to reflect Shackleton’s Irish heritage. The event was attended by representatives of the James Caird Society, The Scott Polar Research Institute and the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, amongst others, and the memorial stone was dedicated by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle. HRH The Princess Royal, Patron of the UKAHT, unveiled the memorial.

Picture by kind permission of Dean and Chapter of Westminster/Picture Partnership

 

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Please see Events for details of  a 150th Anniversary Conference to be held at the RGS from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 May

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In other Shackleton-related news judging will soon be taking place to decide on this year’s  recipient of the annual Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions. The medal, now in its third year, comes with ten thousand GBP of prize money for the winner. The panel of judges, which includes JCS President Alexandra Shackleton, is looking for an individual who has demonstrated courage, determination against the odds and leadership in their work to promote understanding of and protection of the poles. Marine biologists, campaigning filmmakers, scientists and explorers are among the professions encouraged to apply.

Nominations will be open until April 5. More information is available here in this short film about the award.

 

Anniversary Memorial

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On the 150th anniversary of his birth, Thursday 15 February 2024, a Memorial to ‘The Boss’ will be unveiled in Westminster Abbey. See details

Endurance drama in Italian

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The show Endurance: Storia di un viaggio straordinario is an initiative of actress Stefania Mariani and photographer Michele Montalbetti from the company Stage Photography. They have been inspired by this century old adventure not just in terms of history but for the lessons that we all can learn from it today.

The stage play has now been adapted for radio and can be found here – in Italian!

The initiative has been fully supported by the James Caird Society and is to be applauded for the length of its run and by the number of people it has reached.

 

‘The Alexandra Shackleton’

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The Alexandra Shackleton on the Southern OceanLong-serving members of the JCS will remember our 2013 Newsletter featuring the Epic Expedition which replicated the original trip of the James Caird across the Southern Ocean from Elephant Island to South Georgia using the same rudimentary equipment, period clothing and technology as Shackleton had nearly 100 years before. This 2013 expedition, led by Tim Jarvis, was the first authentic retracing of ‘the double’ (completion of the voyage as well as the crossing of mountains and glaciers).

The voyage itself took place in a replica lifeboat, named after our own President and of course Shackleton’s grand-daughter: Alexandra Shackleton.

The replica lifeboat has been passed on to the Christchurch Foundation where it will find a permanent home in Akaroa where the captain of Endurance, New Zealander Frank Worsley, originally learned to sail. The Churchill Foundation is now working to restore the Alexandra Shackleton to a seaworthy state – and to build her a worthy and permanent home.

Full details about this exciting project, which is fully supported by The Hon Alexandra Shackleton, can be found on the Churchill Foundation website.