MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Shackleton Fund seeks Falklands projects to finance

A charitable fund which works towards improving the quality of life of Falkland Islanders is inviting project proposals for the next year.

The Shackleton Scholarship fund was established in 1995 to commemorate in perpetuity two remarkable men closely linked to Antarctica and the Falklands, Sir Ernest Shackleton and Lord Edward Shackleton.

The fund was a suggestion of a former governor of the Islands, David Tatham, following the death of Lord Shackleton in 1994. There are two types of scholarship, academic and quality of life.

Over the nine years that the fund has been in operation, a great diversity of scholars have benefited with over £80,000 being donated to science, arts and sports, all to enhance the understanding of the Falklands and South Georgia or to improve the quality of life within the Islands.

Studies have included stone runs, fresh water fish, volcanic ash deposits, place names of the Falklands, the establishment of a Falklands herbarium, spiders, heritage and tourism, pyography, wood turning, horse taming, cookery?

The list is quite extensive and includes "Hank Wangford and the Lost Cowboys", providing one of the most enjoyable West Sports Weeks in living memory.

This year the Shackleton Scholarship fund again offers a rich program. Funding has been approved to help the Music Department in the Falkland Islands Community School to bring a composer to the Islands to help the children compose a Falklands Symphony. Dr Stephen Royal has been given funding to explore the Islands' ?extreme tourism'. Steve Dent has arranged for a shot gun instructor to visit the Islands in the New Year.

Bjorn Gillsater has donated pictures of the Falklands that his father took in the 1950's which show a rich diversity of life in camp and Stanley from that period. They will be scanned and saved onto CD. Some will be printed and it is hoped that an exhibition will be arranged, both in London at the FIGO office and in the Falklands.

Anyone wishing to propose an idea for future funding, become a Shackleton Scholar or find out more about what is happening this year, can contact one of the committee members: His Excellency The Falkland Islands Governor (Chairman), Emma Edwards (Secretary), Leif Pollard (Treasurer) Phyl Rendell, John Birmingham, John Barton,

Civil Military Liaison Officer Major Marc Brennan or visit the fund's website: www.shackletonfund.com(PN)