Tributes to “A very gallant gentleman”

“All who come to the museum will be reminded of his bravery, perseverance, determination and at the end, his extraordinary self- sacrifice.” (HRH Prince Charles, message to the Museum).

More than 150 people – Trustees, Patrons, Antarctic explorers, donors and other guests – packed the Museum on 10th March for the formal opening of the new Oates Galleries. So many accepted the Museum’s invitation to the opening that the formal speeches had to be held on the lawn outside.

The new galleries were formally opened by Bryan Oates, great nephew of Captain Oates and Ed Parker, founder of the charity Walking with the Wounded. Bryan Oates, who has provided much new Oates material for the revamped exhibition, said that Captain Oates was not much discussed by his family when he was young. But he noted that Oates is now seen as a symbol of many simple but heroic virtues and is attracting great interest again.

Ed Parker, who organised a recent expedition of wounded soldiers who walked to the North Pole at the end of 2011, gave a fascinating insight into the challenges faced by Scott and his team compared to modern Polar explorers.

Accompanying Ed Parker were four wounded members of the Royal Dragoon Guards (Oates’s regiment, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, is now part of the Dragoon Guards). In December 2012 they will follow Scott & Oates’s route to the Pole, raising funds for Walking with the Wounded and the South Georgia Heritage Fund.

In her speech welcoming guests Dr Rosemary Irwin, Chairman of Trustees, said she was delighted to have received a message of support for the Museum from HRH Prince Charles, Colonel in Chief of the Royal Dragoon Guards.

“I am delighted that the Trustees of Gilbert White’s House and the Oates Collection have created a new permanent exhibition to commemorate the life of Captain Oates. It is entirely fitting that the opening coincides with the 100th anniversary of his heroic death in the Antarctic and that all who come to the museum will be reminded of his bravery, perseverance, determination and at the end, his extraordinary self- sacrifice.

“Captain Scott wrote: ‘…he took pride in thinking that his regiment would be pleased in the bold way he met his death.’ Members of my regiment still revere him as an inspirational figure and succeeding generations continue to be moved by Oates’s courage. This exhibition will serve as a permanent reminder of his unforgettable example. ”

Dr Irwin thanked the Heritage Lottery Fund and the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust and other donors for their financial support for the project. Keith Halstead, from the Heritage Lottery Fund, said this sort of project was just the sort of exercise they wanted to support, and welcomed the new display. Philippa Foster Back, Chair of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, said she was delighted to see that the Trust’s money had been so well spent, creating a lively and stimulating new exhibition. She was particularly pleased at the educational elements of the exhibition.

The new galleries tell the story of Oates’s early life and his distinguished service in the Boer War – where he earned the nickname “No Surrender Oates” for refusing to surrender to a much superior Boer force. Most of the space in the galleries is devoted to the story of the Scott Expedition of 1910-12. The expedition was very well documented and photographed, and the new galleries have numerous artefacts, photographs and documents – many not seen before – from the expedition. A completely new section reflects the scientific importance and legacy of the Scott Expedition: almost all climate change science originates with the work done by Scott’s scientific team.

Guests were impressed by the quality of the new exhibition. Heather Lane, Librarian at the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge University, who has played an invaluable role in advising the Museum on the new exhibition, said she was delighted at the final product. “It is a very lively and fascinating exhibition. It really teaches you a lot about Polar exploration, and in a most stimulating way.” Representatives of British Antarctic Survey, based in Cambridge, and who have also advised the Museum, were at the opening, together with several distinguished Antarctic explorers.

Media interest in the opening has been massive, with articles in The Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Mail and the Express. A team from BBC Look South covered the opening and it was the longest item on Saturday’s BBC South News.

The focus of the day was firmly on the remarkable life and qualities of Captain Lawrence Oates, that “very gallant gentleman”.

In her introduction, Dr Irwin said: “in the last year, while we have been putting together our new exhibition on Oates, I think all of us involved have come to appreciate the qualities of this very British hero, a calm and unflappable man, who just got on with it without complaining. I hope that comes through when you look at the new exhibition. If ever the wartime slogan of “Keep Calm and Carry On” could be applied to anyone it is Oates. He’s just the sort of man you’d like to have with you when the going gets really tough. ”

We are delighted to report an overwhelming response to our announcement that the Official Opening of the Oates Galleries will take place on Saturday 10th March at 11.00am.

Space within our new Galleries is limited. To ensure everyone’s comfort and safety, only the first 30 paying visitors, Friends of the Museum or those with residents’ cards will be invited to witness the speeches and ribbon cutting, alongside those who have sponsored the new exhibition.

However, none of our visitors will miss out! Opening ceremony complete, all visitors will be able to enjoy the new Galleries at their leisure. Guests awaiting the opportunity to visit the new exhibition will be able to enjoy the rest of the Museum.

In Bell’s Library, the Antarctic Adventurers, the only re-enactment group in the world specialising in the Historic Period of Polar Exploration, will be exhibiting. The group depict a sledging party of the period complete with all the clothing, sledge, tents and other equipment that would have been carried on a Nansen sledge between 1900 and 1915. Since their formation in 2002, the group have taken part in many multi-period history shows organised by English Heritage and the National Trust as well as museums and even the quarter deck of HMS Belfast.

We are also delighted to announce that folk-rock guitarist and songwriter Jake Wilson will perform ‘All’s Well’, a new cycle of songs inspired by the journals and letters of Captain Scott’s expedition, throughout the morning in the Great Parlour. Jake has composed a song from the point of view of each of the members of the team who died on the return journey from the South Pole – Captain Scott, Edgar Evans, Edward Wilson, Henry Bowers and Captain Lawrence Oates – and the songs have been described by Edward Wilson’s great-nephew as “a cultural masterpiece for the centenary”.

Throughout the day, costumed staff – and it is rumoured a penguin – will be on hand should you have any questions. The gardens will be full of spring promise, our award-winning Tea Parlour will be serving delicious food, and our renowned Gift Shop will be stocked with many Antarctic-themed books and gifts.

2012 will be an exciting year as we mark the 100^th anniversary of the death of Antarctic Explorer Captain Lawrence Oates.  As I write, work is underway to install exciting new interactive galleries (officially opening on Saturday 10^th March 2012) to mark the centenary, and to celebrate the life of a soldier, explorer and hero who accompanied Scott to the South Pole, and who is best remembered for sacrificing his life in the vain attempt of saving his comrades. Oates left the tent in a raging blizzard with the words ‘I am just going outside and may be some time’ His body has never been found.

Last month our Chairman, Dr Rosemary Irwin was delighted to welcome Bryan Oates, great nephew to Lawrence to the museum. He kindly presented a fascinating collection of his family’s artefacts to be included in the new displays. Included in the artefacts is the beautifully kept 1880 diary belonging to Lawrence’s mother, Caroline Oates, recording his birth on St Patrick’s Day with the neatly written words ‘baby is born at 6.20’. There is also two original letters bearing the British Antarctic Expedition letterhead, sent from Lawrence whilst on the Terra Nova voyage to the Antarctic in 1911, and two document cases engraved with his name.

Of particular interest are transcriptions of Lawrence’s diaries, the originals of which Caroline Oates insisted were destroyed following her son’s tragic death, but which his sister Violet painstakingly copied without her mother knowing. An extract from his Antarctic diary dated 17^th January 1912 reads “A wretched day, temp at start -22° S.W. wind low drift. We followed Amundsen’s tracks for about 1 hour but had to give it up as were nearly obliterated by snow. His tracks went in S. Westerly direction and then we steered due South for the Pole. Had to halt at 12.15 as Evans’ hands were getting very cold.”

Our ambitious project to create the new galleries has been enabled by funding from a ‘Your Heritage’ National Lottery Grant and together with match funding from the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust, plus donations and fundraising. We are looking forward to the unveiling of the new displays which will bring the Terra Nova expedition to life and provide fascinating and sobering evidence of Lawrence’s experiences in the Antarctic. We hope that our new galleries commemorating his life will be of interest to lots of visitors when they open in March 2012, so please come along!

A Very Gallant Gentleman

Book our Head Gardener David Standing now for speaking engagements in 2012! David is an experienced and enthusiastic speaker who will engage, entertain and inform your club, group or society. His ‘specialist subject’ is Gilbert White and he can tailor a lecture to your particular interests be it Gilbert White’s garden, his life or his beloved village of Selborne.
In March this year David was invited to speak at the Garden History Society London where he spoke brilliantly about his own thirty year project to discover the history, and original layout of Gilbert White’s garden. It is a fascinating story that was very well received (and one that was recently told in a wonderful article in the latest issue of Life in Petersfield magazine – see below) If you would like to book David, please contact Gilbert White’s House on 01420 511275.

Despite the heavy rainfall over the weekend, we were delighted to see visitors flock in pleasing numbers to our Unusual Plants Fair. Not to be put off by the wonderful British climate, determined plant hunters arrived with their shopping lists at the ready and all kitted out with waterproofs, umbrellas and wellie boots!

On Thursday 16^th June at 7.30pm, Captain Lawrence Oates, who is best remembered as the man who walked willingly to his death on Captain Scott’s ill-fated expedition to the South Pole in 1912 in the hope that his comrades might have a better chance of surviving, will be the fascinating subject for the annual Summer Lecture at Gilbert White’s House & Garden and The Oates Collection at Selborne.

Oates famous last words, “I am just going outside and may be some time” were uttered before he stepped out into a blizzard never to be seen again. His body has never been found.  2012 will mark the centenary of his tragic but brave death, which earned him the title ‘a very gallant gentleman’. Co-author of the biography on Oates, Major General Patrick Cordingley, will give the lecture offering an intriguing insight into the character and background of Oates, and is also leading the fundraising effort that Gilbert White’s House & Garden and The Oates Collection recently launched, to enable the Lawrence Oates gallery within the house to be redesigned to tell his story in a more engaging and interactive way.

Like Captain Oates, Major General Patrick Cordingley began his army career, which spanned four decades, with the Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, and in 1991 he became well known for leading the 7th Armoured Brigade (also known as the Desert Rats and comprising of 12,000 men) in the Gulf War, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership and bravery.  Previous to this, with his interest in Captain Oates growing, he had formed part of a small expedition to Antarctica, and now widely lectures on the subject, as well as being a motivational speaker, military commentator for the BBC and last month was a guest at the Royal Wedding.

Tickets for the lecture are £18 which include wine & canapés served during the interval, and can be purchased by telephoning Gilbert White’s House & Garden and The Oates Collection on 01420 511275.

BCC2’s Springwatch Easter Special last Monday was greatly enjoyed by us all, as Gilbert White, as the first ever ‘springwatcher’ was featured!   As is always the way, much more was filmed here at his home than time allowed to show, but it was a fantastic opportunity to introduce a wider audience to Gilbert White, his garden and the amazing work he began.

Gilbert was a meticulous recorder of what happened around him – the arrival of birds, their song patterns, where they nested, what they ate, the weather day by day, the state of growth of every natural plant in his beloved village of Selborne, and the beautiful countryside beyond it. He described his own scientific method as “watching narrowly”, which is a very good way to describe it and here at his home we have exhibited may examples of Gilbert’s success of spending time ‘watching narrowly’ from his discovering and naming of the harvest mouse in 1767 to being the first person to establish that the Chiff Chaff, Willow Warbler and Willow Wren where three different species. Unlike those who went before him, who killed and dissected specimans in order to learn about them, Gilbert allowed them to just ‘be’ and studied them over days, weeks, months and years in order to educate himself and others.

Thanks to programmes such as Springwatch, and popular presenters such as our own Patron Chris Packham, and Kate Humble (who we would love to have as a Patron!) birdwatching and appreciation of the natural world is enjoying a revival, so come along to Gilbert White’s House & Garden to see how the worlds first ecologist, not only studied but recorded the natural world.

On BBC2 at 8pm this Sunday “The Secret of Scott’s Hut” presented by Ben Fogle  (Please follow this link for more information http://www.ukaht.org/index.html ) promises to be an interesting watch for all, who like us, are fascinated by the heroric age of polar exploration.

We are hopeful that this and other press coverage, will increase awareness of, and interest in, the centenary of Scott’s ill-fated Terra Nova expedition, as for many months we have been putting together exciting plans to create a new permanent exhibition to celebrate the life of Captain Oates who accompanied Scott and who heroically lost his life after uttering the famous words ‘I am just going outside and may be some time.’

We plan to launch this exhibition in time for the 100^th anniversary of Oates death on 17^th March 2012, and have already received very generous support from the Heritage Lottery Fund in the form of a Your Heritage grant, and match funding from the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust but fundraising is ongoing for those individuals and organisations who wish to support us. We are keen to include strong educational and interactive elements if we are able to further boost our funds, so please support us if you can by helping us to raise awareness of this worthwhile and exciting project!