Halley Bay - 1961

Pictures

Base photo:

Back row: Ernie Docchar, Dennis Ardus, Mike Bethell, Tony Thorne-Middleton, Mike Thurston, Dave Edwards, George Blundell, Maurice Sumner, Bob Lee, Barry Peters, Dave Easty. Middle row: Colin Dean, Eric Jones, Mike Jarman, Colin Johnson, Graham Talmage, Alan Precious, Pete Noble. Front row: Mike Taplin, Mike Brittain, Stuart Marsden, Dudley Jehan, Edwin Thornton, George Moore, John Skilling.

Photo supplied by Edwin Thornton

The 1961 winterers:

Top row:- Dave Easty; Mike Jarman; Bob Lee; Mike Bethell; Alan Precious; Dave Edwards; Ernie Docchar 2nd row:- Barry Peters; Colin Dean; Maurice Sumner; Mick Taplin; Dudley Jehan; Eric Jones; Pete Noble 3rd row:- George Moore; Stuart Marsden; Colin Johnson; Edwin Thornton; George Blundell 4th row:- John Skilling; Mike Thurston; Dennis Ardus; Graham Talmage; Mike Britain; Tony Thorne-Middleton

Portraits taken by John Skilling Photo supplied by George & Kate Moore

Plan of the base area

Oral History Recordings

• Dudley Jehan
• Barry Peters
• Alan Precious
• Maurice Sumner

Other information, anecdotes etc.

Tooth crown lost and found by Stuart Marsden

There were two cats on base, Strom & Ness, "plus a domesticated penguin".

Colin Johnson:

"Individuals have been expected to paint their own bunkrooms and have been given an absolutely free hand. The results have been fascinating".

Tony Thorne-Middleton:

winter skies millyarden stars one could almost touch. quiet cold reverence to our beautiful planet. [07 January 2007]

Bob Lee:

I am reading your note a little late concerning the "Long Drop" Loo. Recalling the initial construction of same in 1961 at Halley Bay's second base building. We emptied a 45-gallon drum of petrol on the snow and let it burn, melting a hole in the snow some thirty feet deep. Sometime later, after settling down in the New Base hut, I am not sure whether it was mid winter celebration, but John Holt (sadly lately deceased) went out to upchuck and lost a partial denture to the depths of the gash pit. Only to be recovered when all the detritus had solidified. Ah, the follies of youth and how on occasions we abused our bodies. [19 November 2010]
See also the account by Andrew Champness.

Base magazines:

• Halley Comet 1961
• Halley Comet Christmas 1961 edition