British Chapter News

(Story added : February 18, 2010) - February News Update

I am pleased to say that the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 has been a busy time for a number of members of the British Chapter of the Explorers Club.

David Mearns discovered the wreck of AHS Centaur, an Australian hospital ship that was believed to have been sunk by a Japanese torpedo with the loss of over 240 lives When the location of the wreck was first announced it was the most read item on the BBC news website.

Christoph Baumer successfully completed his Ayala Mazar – Xiaohe Culture archaeological expedition in the ancient Keriya Delta of the Taklimakan Desert. The expedition was completed by camel and foot with no mechanised transport being used throughout the 500km journey. A number of significant discoveries were made including entombed 4,000 year old mummified bodies complete with burial treasures. Christoph is returning EC Flag No 60 at the Explorers Club annual dinner next month . I also wish Col. John Blashford-Snell the best of luck as he sets off to Nepal to locate the giant elephants of Bardia.

John Hare and Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher have been nominated to receive this year’s Lowell Thomas awards in October and I wish them every success.

Matt Harris is presently finalising the construction of the new Explorers Club headquarters website. Having taken a sneak preview, it is going to be a fantastic website and will enable chapter members to be far more interactive with the Club and with other EC members. I am also pleased to announce that we are close to concluding a reciprocal club agreement with the Frontline Club in London. A number of British Chapter members met there just before Christmas for a social event which proved a great success. The Frontline has much in common with the Explorers Club and I am certain that Lowell Thomas would have felt very much at home there. More on this in my next update.

I would also like to draw your attention to our next Chapter meeting on Monday, 22 March 2010 at the Travellers Club where we will welcome Dr Don Walsh. Don is an American oceanographer, explorer and marine policy specialist. 50 years ago, he and Jacques Piccard were aboard the bathyscaphe Trieste when it made a record-breaking descent into the Mariana Trench in 23 January 1960, the deepest point in the world's oceans. It is certain to be a fascinating presentation. Click here to book.

Finally, any day now you should receive your ballot form for the election of Board Directors of the Explorers Club. Please do remember that in order for your vote to be counted, it must be received in New York no later than 19th March 2010. You must have also paid your 2010 subscriptions (you can call the club on 001 212 628 8383 to renew them) and write your name and address on the top left hand corner of the reply envelope. The cost of postage from the UK is 62 pence. You can vote for up to five candidates but you may decide only to vote for one candidate if you have a particular preference.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Barry Moss

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