Scott Polar Reseach Institute

Yesterday my BFF and I went on a day trip to Cambridge to visit the Scott Polar Research Institute. From the moment we walked in and the nice man gav eus a tour of the maps on the roof, we were hooked. What a great little museum. Gathering all manner of relics from Scott's expedition (mostly contributed by Frank Debenham who opened the museum, and my favourite, Cherry) as well as a collection of Arctic relics in one place.

They've got a great exhibition on for the Centenary which is fantastic. I was so excited at seeing some of Cherry's diaries and the manuscrript for The Worst Journey in the World on display sent me reeling a little bit. Not to mention the secret drawers you open to find the letters Scott wrote to the families of his comrades as he lay dying in his tent (the actual letters!) and Oates' sleeping bag! All of this together in one place was fantastic. Steph and I both shed a tear as we read Oates' last letter to his mother 'included is a list of things I'd like ready for me on my return....'

Totally worth the trip to Cambridge (I love a good train journey out of town, pheasant spotting as we go) and a lovely day out of the city to boot.

I'm rather fortunate that my best friend shares my Polar fascination, aren't I?
Posted by dianne tanner dot co dot uk at Sunday, December 11, 2011
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8 comments:

  1. Anonymous11 December 2011 at 15:34

    Pretty incredible. I must visit, of course.

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  2. Nina Jørgensen11 December 2011 at 23:44

    wow stunning, now i wish i was in cambridge!

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  3. Anonymous12 December 2011 at 00:53

    I bet that place had that nice musty old smell too x

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  4. Chuck12 December 2011 at 10:16

    Aww... such a cute roadtrip! Best friends are awesome. That handwriting is amazing. x

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  5. Caroline Hancox12 December 2011 at 15:17

    No way! I work right next door to that, and I'm ashamed to say that I have never actually been inside. Tomorrow lunchtime I am going to go

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  6. dianne tanner dot co dot uk12 December 2011 at 16:24

    Caroline you totally have to go. Its amazing, the staff are incredible and passionate about what they do, and it is overwhelming some of the things they have in. I wish I worked right next door. My friend joked that I should ask them for a job.

    Cambridge is so lovely I can't wait to come back in the summer for some punting.

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  7. Zoë12 December 2011 at 23:41

    Oh how interesting!! Have you watched the latest episode of Frozen Planet because they make reference (and modern comparisons) to Scott's iconic journey.

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  8. Rachel Louisa.14 December 2011 at 13:50

    Ok, wow.
    I have to go there!
    Looks like the stuff of my dreams...

    Also, you were so right about the Buckingham Palace exhibition. I adored it!

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