The proceeds of these talks helps towards the stability to the museum during the quieter winter months.

On the 5th March we will be joined by Anne Strathie, author of three biographies of Terra Nova expedition members, returns for a talk based on her latest book, A History of Polar Exploration in 50 Objects: from Cook’s Circumnavigations to the Aviation Age. In this wide-ranging book, Anne shares the stories of objects relating to a key period in polar exploration history, from the 1770s to the early 1930s. Some objects are, unsurprisingly, associated with world-famous explorers, but others testify to the contributions of scientists, mariners of all ranks, artists, photographers, explorers’ relatives and others.

By way of tribute to Lawrence Oates, Anne will include in this talk objects which also shine a light on the contributions of military men – and will reveal new research on famous portrait of Lawrence Oates now on the wall of an unexpected location.

About the speaker

Anne Strathie’s previous books include biographies of Henry ‘Birdie’ Bowers and Herbert Ponting and From Ice Floes to Battlefields. Research for her books has taken her all over Britain and to Antarctica, the Arctic and to New Zealand, Australia, North America, Japan and Norway. Anne, who was brought up and educated in Scotland, now lives in Gloucestershire, England, home town of polar explorer Edward Wilson. Anne regularly gives talks and participates in events in all over Britain (including for the Royal Geographical Society) and overseas.