MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Schackleton Fund plans to expand
A progress report by the Shackleton Scholarship Fund on its first six years says that it has awarded some 50 scholarships, with grants totalling over £60,000, from income from its core fund of more than £400,000.
Building on this impressive record, the report says: "It is hoped to expand the fund to provide a larger number of scholarships each year, publicise the bursaries more extensively in universities and other places of learning and research, and widen the geographical spread to attract scholars from other countries with Shackleton links, such as Chile, Uruguay, Australia and Scandinavia".
Thanks to donors The report is contained in a sixth anniversary booklet, illustrated with pictures of the Shackletons and some of the scholars. It has been published to publicise the fund and to thank donors, both individuals and organisations. These include the Dulverton Trust and commercial firms, several based in Stanley or linked to the Falkland Islands, as well as the Falklands Government.
It was a former Falkland Islands Governor, David Tatham, who came up with the idea and is now its chairman. The fund was set up after the death in 1994 of Lord Shackleton whose reports laid the foundation of present Falkland's prosperity.
The fund commemorates both him and his father, Sir Ernest Shackleton, the Antarctic explorer whose feats of leadership, navigation, endurance and survival have recently inspired a revival of interest in Britain, the United States and elsewhere.
Encouraging research; enhancing Falklands life The fund awards two types of scholarship ? encouraging offbeat academic research and enhancing the quality of life of Falkland Islanders. Scholars have studied such varied topics as the origin of Falklands place names, the English Language as spoken in the Falklands, fresh water fish, willows, grasses, volcanoes and peat bogs, tree-growing, stone runs, and much more. Some have produced research papers and collected material for books.
The quality of life scholarships have introduced a new dimension into Falklands' social activities. These awards have ranged widely from top class sports coaches in swimming, golf, fly fishing, netball, shooting and horsemanship, to musicians and artists.
The awards supplement existing educational, recreational and commercial activity, and promote new skills and activities for the Islanders.
Islanders and scholars benefit Several scholarships have enabled Islanders to pursue research into sealing in the South Atlantic (Sally Poncet), wool studies in New Zealand (Lynn Blake), painting in South Georgia (Jamie Peck), environmental tourism and conservation (Debbie Summers), a cartoonist's course in London (John Teggart), and football training in Argentina (Martyn Clarke).
Several artists awarded scholarships have donated paintings to the Falkland Islands, where they are on permanent display in the Community School in Stanley.
The report quotes scholars who say they gain from the experience as well as Falkland Islanders. A 2001 bursar, the cookery expert and writer, Frances Bissell, remarked: "I felt that it was my quality of life that was being enhanced, with all that fresh air, clear skies and clean and green Falklands produce. Perhaps we in Britain have as much to learn from the islanders as they have to learn from us". And painter David McEwen, based in France, said: The only other place I would like to live and paint is the Falklands".
The Fund is administered by two committees, one based in the Falklands and the other in London. The London Committee includes another former Falklands Governor, Sir Rex Hunt; Lord Shackleton's daughter and Sir Ernest's grand-daughter, the Honourable Alexandra Shackleton; and the Falklands Government Representative, Miss Sukey Cameron.
The Falkland Islands Committee is headed by the incumbent Governor and includes elected Government Councillors and leading members of the community.
Its Royal Patron is Princess Alexandra, who made what she called a "magical visit" to the Falklands in February, 2000, to see at first hand the work of both the Fund and the Falkland Islands Trust of which she is also Patron. A newly-planted wood at Port Howard is named after her.
To find out more, there is a website: www.shackletonfund.com
Donations and scholarship applications can be made to: The Honorary Secretary (Penny Hill), c/o Falkland House,14 Broadway, Westminster, London SW 1 H OBH, Fax: 0207 222 2375;
e-mail: rep@figo.u-net.com Harold Briley, (MP) London
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