Home Page

Editorial

This is the most stunning satellite image I have ever seen. I've even got a print of it on my office wall. Who would have though that January 2010 would have seen the British Isles under a thick blanket of snow? I certainly didn't. Unlike most people, I was thrilled to pieces. In the southeast where I live we rarely get snow, and if we do it's of the wet and useless kind that disappears very quickly. This time it was 'real' snow - it crunched and squeaked underfoot as good snow does. And it stayed for several days! With lots of sparkling sunshine too, bringing people out into the parks sculpting snowmen and building igloos and generally enjoying themselves during their enforced days off as transport systems broke down. Shamefully, we don't cope very well with winter weather in this country.

Not so our intrepid explorers back in the Heroic Age of polar exploration. A number of medals were awarded to members of various expeditions, and Glen Stein reports here on the recent sale of Frank Wild's medals. Wild participated in more expeditions than any of his contemporaries over a period of twenty years, and to learn more about this man I can thoroughly recommend Leif Mills' biography simply entitled Frank Wild (ISBN 0-905355-48-2).

Being a recognised authority on medals, Glen has written a thorough review of British Polar Exploration and Research: A historical and medallic report with biographies 1818–1999 by Poulsom and Myres. Other books reviewed in this edition include a novel, two accounts of life in Alaska, and a fabulous feast for the eyes in the form of Ice Architecture.

The Rev. George Fisher was another early explorer with a fascinating history. Scientist and educator, chaplain and astronomer, he made his mark in the annals of the high arctic. We are lucky to have several excellent photographs accompanying this article, and I am enormously grateful to all individuals and organisations who have kindly granted us permission to publish their images on this website.

Moving South and into living memory, we have some wonderful reminiscences of working life on South Georgia from Michael Gilkes, who has entertained us with his tales in previous editions. He has a wonderful turn of phrase and always makes me smile, so I hope you will enjoy it too.

Finally, don't forget to check out our Events page, there are some intriguing and varied things on the calendar!

Thank you for reading Polar Worlds. We would love to hear from you, especially if you would like to contribute to these pages in some way.

Solveig Gardner Servian
FRAI, FRGS
Editor

New for this edition:

The biography of Frank Debenham. He was one of the youngest members of Scott's last expedition and the founder of the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge. This is an interesting and entertaining book that anyone connected with the polar world will want to have on their bookshelf. Click on the cover for a full description and how to order.

Home Arctic Antarctic Art Organizations Book reviews Children's books DVDs & Videos Events Museums How to contact us About us Terms and conditions

© Polar Publishing Ltd 2002-2010. All rights reserved.
Copyright infringement is a serious and criminal offence. Polar Publishing Ltd believes in policing copyright for the
benefit of both authors and readers. Polar Publishing actively pursues infringers of its or an author's copyright.

	Polar Worlds The on-line magazine for Polar enthusiasts
Home Arctic Antarctic Art Organizations Book Reviews Children's Books DVDs & Videos Events Museums How to contact us About us Terms and Conditions 'Don't go looking for Antarctica without this book.' - Susan Solomon	Editorial This is the most stunning satellite image I have ever seen. I've even got a print of it on my office wall. Who would have though that January 2010 would have seen the British Isles under a thick blanket of snow? I certainly didn't. Unlike most people, I was thrilled to pieces. In the southeast where I live we rarely get snow, and if we do it's of the wet and useless kind that disappears very quickly. This time it was 'real' snow - it crunched and squeaked underfoot as good snow does. And it stayed for several days! With lots of sparkling sunshine too, bringing people out into the parks sculpting snowmen and building igloos and generally enjoying themselves during their enforced days off as transport systems broke down. Shamefully, we don't cope very well with winter weather in this country. Not so our intrepid explorers back in the Heroic Age of polar exploration. A number of medals were awarded to members of various expeditions, and Glen Stein reports here on the recent sale of Frank Wild's medals. Wild participated in more expeditions than any of his contemporaries over a period of twenty years, and to learn more about this man I can thoroughly recommend Leif Mills' biography simply entitled Frank Wild (ISBN 0-905355-48-2). Being a recognised authority on medals, Glen has written a thorough review of British Polar Exploration and Research: A historical and medallic report with biographies 1818–1999 by Poulsom and Myres. Other books reviewed in this edition include a novel, two accounts of life in Alaska, and a fabulous feast for the eyes in the form of Ice Architecture. The Rev. George Fisher was another early explorer with a fascinating history. Scientist and educator, chaplain and astronomer, he made his mark in the annals of the high arctic. We are lucky to have several excellent photographs accompanying this article, and I am enormously grateful to all individuals and organisations who have kindly granted us permission to publish their images on this website. Moving South and into living memory, we have some wonderful reminiscences of working life on South Georgia from Michael Gilkes, who has entertained us with his tales in previous editions. He has a wonderful turn of phrase and always makes me smile, so I hope you will enjoy it too. Finally, don't forget to check out our Events page, there are some intriguing and varied things on the calendar! Thank you for reading Polar Worlds. We would love to hear from you, especially if you would like to contribute to these pages in some way. Solveig Gardner Servian FRAI, FRGS Editor New for this edition: Frank Wild's Polar Medals British Polar Exploration and Research Fire and Ice: Reverend George Fisher “It ain’t necessarily so”: South Georgia Loose Ends Book Reviews Events: Lectures, Theatre and Exhibitions Deb: Geographer, Scientist, Antarctic Explorer The biography of Frank Debenham. He was one of the youngest members of Scott's last expedition and the founder of the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge. This is an interesting and entertaining book that anyone connected with the polar world will want to have on their bookshelf. Click on the cover for a full description and how to order.

Home Arctic Antarctic Art Organizations Book reviews Children's books DVDs & Videos Events Museums How to contact us About us Terms and conditions © Polar Publishing Ltd 2002-2010. All rights reserved. Copyright infringement is a serious and criminal offence. Polar Publishing Ltd believes in policing copyright for the benefit of both authors and readers. Polar Publishing actively pursues infringers of its or an author's copyright.

Polar Worlds

The on-line magazine for Polar enthusiasts

Editorial