Scientists working at a remote British research station in Antarctica have received a new Royal Mail post box in time for Christmas – thanks to the King.
Kirsten Shaw, a station support assistant who runs the British Antarctic Territory Post Office at Rothera Research Station, wrote to the monarch asking for a replacement for the base’s previous hand-painted replica box.
The Royal Household was “touched by the story of the team working in one of the most remote places on earth” and teamed up with Royal Mail to arrange the gift of one of its famous red lamppost boxes, featuring the King’s cypher.
The post box was delivered by the UK’s polar research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough, along with the first major drop of supplies to the base following the continent’s long, dark winter, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) said.
Aurelia Reichardt, station leader at Rothera, described the present as “having a piece of home with us.”
“It’s such an honor for the station to be gifted a real Royal Mail post box,” she said. “It’s given the community here a real boost – and it’s a great reminder to take the time to reach out to loved ones, even when work gets hectic.”
Reichardt also said, “For our team, who are working in such a remote place, it’s like having a piece of home with us.”
Earlier this year, the King recorded a personal message for researchers in Antarctica, expressing the “greatest admiration for the critically important work you do,” to coincide with the 24 hours of darkness they experience on June 21 – the southern hemisphere’s shortest day.
Shaw, who is responsible for getting mail in and out of Rothera and also across to other BAS stations and science field camps, said: “Being in Antarctica is incredible, but it’s full of extremes.”
She added, “So I think it’s a special thing to send post back home, to communicate your experiences. It’s a moment of your life that you put down on paper and give to someone else.”
