Month: July 2019
The Caithness Stone has stone has just arrived from Scotland!
A visit today to lettering artist Mark Brooks from Canterbury. The Caithness Stone has just arrived from Scotland for the two plaques we are commissioning as part of the ReQuest2021 project commemorating James Marr and Norman Mooney, the two scouts who took part in Shackleton’s Quest Expedition to the Antarctic in 1921. It is a beautiful stone, ideal for inscriptional work and has outstanding weathering capabilities.
Both stones will have the same design but will be different in size. The larger one will be sited in an appropriate place at Scout HQ Gilwell Park, and the smaller one will accompany the ReQuest2021 team on the expedition to Antarctica in the Winter of 2021/22.
The plaques will be a celebration of the two scouts’ participation in the expedition. We did not feel the need for solemnity, so Mark has designed them with bold energetic letter forms. Lively ligatures and playful nesting of letters are used in order that the letters fit neatly into a rectangular block and with an even pattern. We want the stones to be as visually engaging as possible. The letters are tightly and efficiently packed into the stones’ dimensions in order to reduce the footprint. The larger stone will be an echo of its smaller cousin.
Research Projects
The ReQuest Team Members will each undertake an Antarctic Research Project and present their results in different formats on their return.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Lucy Morgan’s: Writing a blog about climate change, based around questions people have. Also running Guide/Scout meetings on the topic. Plus she will be running a fundraising event related to climate change.
PHYSIOLOGICAL EXPERIMENT
Genevieve Scullion’s: The physical effects of different temperatures on body functions. With the help of the members of the expedition, she will be able to measure the effect of varying temperatures on lung function, heart rate/ blood pressure and reactions.
3D ICEBERG SIMULATION
George Stonor’s: A study into the movement of icebergs after they have detached from the ice shelf. This would involve understanding the different forces acting on the ice -such as sea currents, winds and gravity – and their resultant effects.
PHOTOGRAPHY & ART
Darcey Holmes’s: Capturing, using photography, a historical journey in contrast with 100 years ago. Using art to convey the overwhelming effects of human activity and climate change on Antarctica’s landscape and wildlife.
THE SOUNDS OF ANTARCTICA
Alan Noake’s: Recording an entire “soundscape” podcast of Antarctica – the various sounds of the ship, icebergs, wildlife and weather. As well as one-to-one interviews with participants, crew, scientists and tourists. The project aim is to produce a complete audio record of the project.
MOTION SICKNESS STUDY
Cathy Mummery’s: The physiological causes of motion sickness and then whilst on Bark Europa look into the various treatments and how effective they are on individuals – shop bought medications, natural remedies and common sense remedies (watching the horizon, fresh air etc.)
PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD
Laura Bernard’s: Document, through pictures, the physical and psychological effects of fellow explorers throughout the journey to and from Antarctica. Capturing the highs and lows of the entire experience.
ELECTRICITY GENERATION
Matt Wood’s: Carry out first hand research on how electricity is generated and stored in the research bases on Antarctica. We all know that global warming is happening, and one of the key issues contributing to this is the way we (humans) generate and use electricity.
A Hot June Evening In Antarctica!
It was somewhat ironic that Kent Scouts chose to run its Evening In Antarctica on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year so far!
Back Row (Left to Right):
Darcey Holmes, Colin Walker, Genevieve Scullion, The Honourable Alexandra
Shackleton, Lucy Morgan, George Stonor, Joe Doherty.
Front Row (Left to Right): Cathy Mummery, Alan Noake, Matt Wood and Shackleton
The Penguin!
On Saturday 29th June guests gathered from around the County, and beyond, in the barn at Lower Grange Farm in Kent for an evening of presentations to learn all about the Kent Scouts ReQuest2021 Antarctica Project.
The guest speakers were Colin Walker (Scout Historian and Archivist), Joe Doherty (The first scout to ski to the South Pole and kite ski back) and the Honourable Alexandra Shackleton (Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Granddaughter) who is also one of the project’s three supporting patrons.
The ReQuest2021 Team (From
Left to Right): Matt Wood, George Stonor, Darcey Holmes, Genevieve Scullion, Alan
Noake (with Shackleton The Penguin!), Cathy Mummery and Lucy Morgan.
(Plus, not forgetting, Laura Bernard – who was unable to be present at the
event.)
The project’s other two supporting patrons sent the team video messages – James
Ketchell, currently flying a gyrocopter all around the world and Felicity Aston
MBE, the first woman to ski to the South Pole.
In the Winter of 2021/22, the team of Scouts will be sailing on the Bark Europa Tall Ship from South America to Port Lockroy in Antarctica. Exactly 100 years after two Scouts sailed on Shackleton’s final Quest Expedition the project‘s objectives will be: –
- To participate as members of the crew on the Barque Europa on a voyage to Antarctica.
- For each of the participants to carry out an Antarctic research project and present the results upon return.
- To visit Port Lockroy base that was established by Scout James Marr and fly a Scout flag on Antarctica.
- To unveil an expedition plaque dedicated to Marr & Mooney at Gilwell Park and Port Lockroy in Antarctica.
- To involve the younger sections in join-in educational fun activities in the form of Antarctica In An Ice Box.
All four youth participants gave an overview of their Antarctic Research projects. Genevieve’s is a PHYSIOLOGICAL EXPERIMENT, Lucy’s is on CLIMATE CHANGE, Darcey’s is using PHOTOGRAPHY & ART and George’s is doing 3D ICEBERG SIMULATION. #MakeItHappen.
The top four Raffle prizes donated for the night were as follows:-
1. A Thames Cruise on The Lady Daphne Thames Barge (including Tower Bridge opening) for four people worth over £100. Aug/Sep options for 2019. [DONATED BY: SAM HOWE AND ANDY TAYLOR, LADY DAPHNE]
2. Into The Frozen South Book 1923 (with facsimile of original cover). Worth around £100. [DONATED BY: PAUL DAVIS, KINGSBRIDGE BOOKS]
3. The Shackleton Voyages Book [DONATED BY: PAUL DAVIS, KINGSBRIDGE BOOKS]
4. SendMeCakes Ultimate Bake Box Gift Voucher. Worth £22. [DONATED BY: LOU MILLIGAN, SEND ME CAKES]
The team have fundraised £26,545 so far with a project target of £85,000. Gentoo penguin level sponsors (each donating over £250) to date include the Gallagher Group Ltd, the Deep-Sea Scouts and The Goodwin Sands Potholing Club.
Kent Scouts is one of the largest Scouting counties in the UK. Giving adventure to 17,112 young people and 5,439 adults across Kent. We are an umbrella organisation to the Scout Association of the UK operating in the Local authorities of Kent County Council and Medway Council. The aim of the Association is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities.
For various ways you can follow and support the project please visit: http://www.fundraisingladder.co.uk/ReQuest2021