RGS Shackleton Exhibition

Forty of our members attended a most impressive private viewing at the Royal Geographical Society. The evening started with Rita Gardner, RGS Director, sharing her views on the vital importance of the study of geography in tackling many of the world’s challenges including climate change and population growth. Meredith Hooper, curator of the Enduring Eye exhibition, Antarctic expert and visiting fellow of Wolfson College then took the stage to introduce us to the exhibition. Meredith joined us as we toured the exhibition, her extensive research into the life and work of Frank Hurley, the expedition photographer, providing many fascinating insights and anecdotes that brought Hurley’s already outstanding photography to life. After viewing a wide range of Shackleton artifacts from the RGS archives we moved to the cosy Lowther Room for refreshments – all of us with a deep sense of awe and admiration for Shackleton and his men in having survived such an ordeal. We are very indebted to David Hughes, a member of our Cambridge Society of London, for proposing and initiating this and for working hard with the RGS to make it such a success. Thanks also to our Committee member Sylvia Le Comber for her support and help.