MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

HMS Endurance Association Preserves 1982 Spirit.

The latest reunion of the HMS Endurance Association, formed after her memorable role in the 1982 Falklands Conflict, has been held aboard the present HMS Endurance, berthed at Portsmouth Naval Dockyard as she prepares for her annual six-month-long assignment in the Antarctic. She sails on October 24th to carry out hydrographic surveys, compile navigation charts and support the work of the British Antarctic Survey's scientists.

Highlight of the Association's reunion was the traditional presentation of a silver penguin statuette to the member of the ship's company who has made the most significant contribution to the vessel's operational capability on the previous year's Antarctic voyage.

The beautifully sculptured penguin was presented this year to the Deputy Engineer Officer, 40-year-old Keith James McCabe, for his professionalism and dedication, overcoming many difficulties on the voyage after the vessel's extensive refit. The silver penguin was presented to him by its donor, the Honourable Alexandra Shackleton, daughter of Lord Shackleton and granddaughter of the Antarctic Explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, after whose famous ship, crushed by the ice on his 1914-1915 expedition, the Royal Navy's ice patrol vessel is now named.

The Association keeps alive to this day pride in the comradeship, professionalism and fighting spirit displayed by the crew of Endurance in 1982 even though that vessel was long ago replaced and her courageous commander, Captain Nick Barker, died in 1997.

Some members of her 1982 ship's company still belong to the Association, among them retired Royal Navy Commander Michael Green, now health and safety officer of the Red Cross, who was Captain Barker's second-in-command and co-founder and long-time secretary of the Association. Also at the reunion were Sir Rex Hunt, Falkland Islands Governor at the time of the 1982 Argentine invasion, and retired Royal Navy Commander Michael Rankin, secretary of the South West Atlantic Group, which played a prominent part in Lord Shackleton's campaign to maintain a Royal Navy Antarctic ice patrol ship when the Government decided to scrap the previous vessel.

On its forthcoming assignment, the present Endurance, commanded by Captain Andy Dickson, will carry out work around South Georgia, the South Shetland and South Orkney Islands, the North Antarctic Peninsular and at Pebble Island, in the Falkland Islands, where the ship will spend New Year, and hold a traditional football match with a Falklands team. Endurance is also making goodwill visits to ports in Brazil and Argentina.

Harold Briley, London