It was a case of when Lucy met Lucy when, during another big trip to Antarctica, our Senior Polar Specialist Lucy Yeoman sat down to speak with Lucy Bruzzone, the Education Program Director at Cambridge University who spent a season in Antarctica working in the world’s most southerly Post Office at the historic Port Lockroy Station.
Located on the scenic island of Goudier on the Antarctic Peninsula, the site has been open to visitors since 1966 during the Antarctic summer (November to March) and is now managed by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, which runs the site as a ‘living museum’ with a popular gift shop.
Lucy all smiles in the post office
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and what attracted you to work in this part of the world?
Lucy B: I am a geographer by training and so I have always had an interest in the natural world, but also the human connection to the natural environment as well. And I love outdoor activities, and snow and ice are particular favourites. But I have also been working a lot in sustainability for many years. And so, understanding the impact that we are having on this natural environment and also the influence that it has on our lives has been really important to me, particularly over recent years.
Colourful skies over Port Lockroy
Could you describe a typical day down in Port Lockroy?
Lucy B: A typical day starts early, many people think that we have a lot of free time, but actually it is a very busy time here. We are up at seven, and we all have breakfast together. We discuss the day’s activities. We may be receiving one or two ships a day depending on the weather, depending on the conditions. And we prepare for our ship visits. We eat very well here, which has been a surprise for many of us! And we also undertake our penguin surveys every two days, before the chicks start to creche. So, we have a colony that we monitor; a sub-colony that we monitor every other day to count the number of eggs and then subsequently the number of chicks they have. And we look at whether there is any impact of visitors on the breeding success of the penguins. So, that’s ongoing work that happens here alongside the heritage and conservation.
Do you feel a sense of community experiencing life in such a special place?
Lucy B: We welcome many visitors to Lockroy and it’s a wonderful opportunity for them to experience life as it was. Our lives are very similar to the men’s on base originally in terms of simple lifestyle, no running water. We have very little internet connection and connection with the outside world. But we are part of a wonderful polar community so we have a lot of contact with the expedition ships. And it’s been wonderful to experience that community down here.
Expedition landing, Damoy Point, entrance to the harbour of Port Lockroy
What would you say your favourite thing about working down here is?
Lucy B: I think it’s the opportunity to live in this stunning environment. So, it’s an absolute privilege to see the seasons changing, see the weather changing and also to be able to share that with many, many individuals. And to be able to tell the stories of the hard work that was put in by the men who lived here and to show a little insight into what life was like. Alongside our opportunity to live a little bit of that life as well.
The dormitory in the museum
The museum here is quite unique in that it is something that you can walk around and experience. And many people find it’s a really stunning place to visit. And it is a privilege to be able to share that with them.
The old kitchen area in the museum
What would you say is the biggest challenge that you face here?
Lucy B: I think one of the challenges that we’ve all experienced is becoming familiar with the very changeable conditions. So, this season has seen a huge amount of snow in the early season. And then a lot of rain later on. And we have had some very, very strong winds. And so, it’s adapting to those conditions. And getting familiar with what might be coming next and being able to be prepared for that. Whilst we have got modern technology and we receive weather forecasts, we also use the heritage artifacts, we have a barograph that still works. And so, we love going and checking which direction the pressure is going and what that might mean for us in the coming days.
The antique but still functional barograph
What is the most unusual or memorable moment that you have had so far on your stint down here?
Lucy B: I think when we have been asked this it is so difficult to answer because there are so many different aspects. Every day since we have been here has been different. And so, there are always lots of different touch points and things that are memorable. We have had days when we have come off expedition ships and seen whales jumping out of the water or breaching a little bit. We have had stunning evenings where it is flat and calm, and the sun is shining. We have had really, really strong winds and stormy conditions. And visitors from all over the world who are excited to be here and see them. Every day is special.
Whale tail fluking
What is your favourite time of the year?
Lucy B: We have been here for the Austral summer which is a very unusual summer for those of us who live in the northern hemisphere. We have had amazing long summer light evenings, but we are now getting much darker. So, you get a different experience. Now, we get the stars at night which we didn’t have in the early days. So, I wouldn’t say there is a particular early/late/mid-season that would be better. I think any time you come to Antarctica you are going to have an amazing time regardless, and each year is different.
The port set against a giant ice shelf
Do you have any stories you would like to share?
Lucy B: The only other thing that I would probably want to say is, just like for your visitors who are coming to Antarctica, is for them to really think about the privileged opportunity they have. And then what they can also contribute to the preservation of this place and obviously the security of all of our futures as a result of that.
You can also watch this extended interview with Lucy by the UKAHT:
The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust is a charity and they need your help more than ever. Even a small donation can help them continue their work, so please donate here.
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