Prime Minister Brown and Capt Scott

[Warden]

Stories of famous adventurers from his childhood encyclopaedia fascinated a young Gordon Brown, the PM has revealed in a book of short stories.

In his story, "When I was Ten", he says he went back to the book "again and again" and was struck by the "sad" tale of Antarctic explorer Captain Scott.

See BBC news report here

Harry

 

[Warden]

Mind you Gordon Brown has said it is "absolutely correct" to compare him to Heathcliff - the brooding, romantic anti-hero of Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights.

See BBC news report here

Mind you not perhaps like these chaps

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NSed1K-QNMc

Harry

 

[dhermann1]

I originally saw the story of the Scott expedition on Walter Cronkite's old show, The 20th Century. It filled me with horror. Explains a lot about Mr Brown's dour personality.

 

[Flitcraft]

Maybe he should read about Amundsen?

 

[Warden]

After placing the post, it reminded me that as a child in the 1960s/70s my favourite book was of action man (GI Joe in the US) re-enacting Captain Scott's trip.

Nice mixture of history, fact and toy marketing.

Harry

 

[Mojito]

I was haunted in childhood by Mawson's amazing story of survival in that same 1912 season of Antarctic exploration (and the tragic death of his two companions). It was only years later that I read about Oates, and then I became hooked on the Scott expeditions. One of the most interesting pieces of research I've ever done was to assist a friend in transcribing sections of the unpublished diaries of Belgrave Ninnis, the first man to perish on the Mawson expedition, held at the Scott Polar Institute. Ninnis was a charming character, and very interesting in his own right - one of the great untold stories was the friendship he developed with Anna Pavlova before the Nimrod sailed for Antartica. I understand there are plans in progress to publish his diaries - at least the Antarctic sections.

The Scott Polar Institute is also one of the most absolutely intriguing archives I've ever visited - there's history at every turn, and artefacts from so many golden age expeditions in every nook. Ship's bell from the Terra Nova, anyone? I touched it lightly every time I passed it on the staircase.

 

[Warden]

You never know but perhaps Prime Minster Brown will volunteer for this?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7580913.stm

Harry

 

[Warden]

Interesting news story on Captain Scott plus some amazing photos.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15384729

 

[Mojito]

The travelling exhibition mentioned in the article has just closed here in Sydney at the museum where I work. After having read so much about Scott, it was a powerful experience to actually see the geological samples he collected on the pole expedition, which were later found with his body.

 

[Warden]

Wow Mojito, that's amazing

 

[Warden]

Little more news on Captain Scott.

The first of the farewell letters written in the Antarctic by Captain Robert Scott as he realised that he and his team would not survive is for sale at Bonhams Polar Sale in London on 30 March 2012. It is estimated to make £100,000-150,000.

http://www.bonhams.com/usa/press/6367/

 

[DNO]

Amazing that this letter is on the open market!

Huntford's book, The Last Place on Earth, was an eye-opener for me. Although it's a little heavy-handed on Scott and a little fawning on Amundsen, it was still revealing.

I always felt great sympathy for 'Titus' Oates. A brave man who shouldn't have been there.

 

[Warden]

A little off topic, but an interesting news article on how for more than a century Wales has enjoyed an enduring fascination with Scott of the Antarctic.

Even before The Terra Nova departed from Cardiff in 1910, the Welsh public had already raised £2,500 towards the voyage, or about £1m in 2012 prices.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-16554624