Centenary Updates

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The ten-strong team of Kent Scouts who took part in ReQuest21 are now back in the UK after a successful expedition. After 20 days at sea taking an active part in sailing the Bark Europa tall ship – taking the helm, helping set sails, climbing rigging and doing lookout duty – they made their way back up the Beagle Channel to Ushuaia, Argentina.

During the trip the team twice crossed the infamous Drake Passage and  explored the waters and islands of the Antarctic Peninsula.

“We have successfully achieved all our objectives for the voyage including taking up a last-minute opportunity to visit Port Lockroy which was established by Scout Marr during Operation Tabarin in World War Two. There is just some work to do on our other project objectives now upon our return the UK – outreach to young people, developing the legacy fund and taking the commemorative plaque to Scotland.”

Full details of the Scouts’ magnificent achievements can be found here.

Closer to home, many members of the James Caird Society and other Antarctic aficionados attended a beautiful choral evensong at Westminster Abbey on 18 January. The service was dedicated to the memory of the Boss’s death in Grytviken in January 1922.

And finally – Shackleton’s Final Quest voyage has been postponed. Please watch this space for further details.

Happy New Year

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Very best wishes to all members of the James Caird Society and to anyone with an interest in the feats and exploits of Sir Ernest Shackleton. This year will see preparations continue for events to mark the centenary of Shackleton’s death aboard Quest in South Georgia on 5 January 1922. Updated information will be posted here and also in the summer Newsletter which goes to all our members.

And don’t forget – copies of the magnificent Shackleton Poster are still available to purchase. Full details can be found here.

ShackletonExpeditionPoster

Shackleton poster: eye-catching and informative

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We are delighted to announce that the Shackleton poster, as described in our 2020 Newsletter and shown here, is now available to order.

ShackletonExpeditionPoster

All proceeds from the sale of these posters will go towards our charitable work – which is to support projects, usually expeditions, which emulate the spirit of Shackleton, especially of the Endurance Expedition.

The poster is A2 size (24″ x 16″/ 610mm x 407mm) and is extremely informative, as well as being a wonderful work of art: either way it will make a perfect present this Christmas. It was created by American artist, designer and illustrator John Hyatt, an ardent admirer of Sir Ernest’s achievements. We are very grateful to John for allowing us to use his work in this way.

To order a poster, please contact Tony Parker at with your name and full postal address.

We are asking for a minimum donation of £15 please to cover production costs, plus Postage and Packaging of £5.00 (UK) or £9.00 (overseas).

Payment details

By cheque, made payable to ‘The James Caird Society’ and sent to

Mr A J Parker, 29 Pemberton Road, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9LG

Or by bank transfer to: Account Name: The James Caird Society,   Bank: BANK OF SCOTLAND,   Branch: London Chief Office,    Sort Code: 12 01 03    Account Number: 00447400   BIC: BOFSGB21254   IBAN: GB84 BOFS 1201 0300 4474 00

Please note: If paying by Bank Transfer, please use the reference ‘POSTER’ and ensure that your bank includes a reference that clearly identifies you as the transferor.

Gift Aid: If you are a UK taxpayer and have not completed a Gift Aid form, please download this from our website, complete and send it to Tony Parker at the above address.

 

November Dinner

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Sadly, the traditional November dinner at Dulwich College has now been cancelled. This decision was driven by the government guidelines relating to Covid-19 and the events policy adopted by Dulwich College.  In a positive light, we plan to view this as a mere postponement – and intend to restart our activities in 2021. If gatherings like those hosted by JCS are permitted, our postponed May Dinner will take place on Friday 21 May, with Skip Novak as our guest speaker.

The formal 2020 AGM will be a virtual affair of some kind, details of which will be posted here when finalised. JCS members will be informed by email.