Your postcard’s journey

07/12/2023

Earlier in the year, as part of the 80th birthday of Port Lockroy and the 30th anniversary of the charity, we offered our supporters the opportunity to send a limited edition postcard with a personalised message from Antarctica.

Our limited edition postcard (Credit: UKAHT)

For eight decades, the basic wooden hut known as Bransfield House, home to the world's southernmost post office, has endured winter after winter but with decreasing sea ice we are seeing heavier snowfall. 

We needed your help to fix and stabilise the roof above the historic bunkhouse of this special building and to support the conservation efforts. To raise funds, we offered you the chance to send your very own postcard from Antarctica this year. We are pleased to tell you that your postcards should be arriving soon.

Your postcard’s journey

You took up the call and 883 postcards bound for 36 countries were carried in the team’s luggage and left the UK on 27 October. Your postcards arrived with the team on Goudier Island on 6 November.

Postmaster Laura at Port Lockroy with postcards in hand (Credit: Laura Büllesbach)

Port Lockroy postmaster Laura promptly got to work and stamped and hand-cancelled them, popped them in the iconic red post box in Bransfield House. She waved goodbye to the mailbags on 22 November as they set out on a zodiac and then on a passing cruise ship on their voyage to the Falkland Islands.

Laura gets to work (Credit: Laura Büllesbach)

On 27 November, the bags arrived at the post office in Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory. The mail was then hand-sorted there by country. From there, they’ll board one of the twice-weekly planes to RAF Brize Norton in the UK. 

The team prepares to send the postcards on their way (Credit: Laura Büllesbach)

Once in the UK, the postcards will be sent on to their destinations in 36 countries via Royal Mail. Thanks to the proceeds from every card, the urgent repair work to Port Lockroy’s roof is planned for later in the season. 

The postcards leave Port Lockroy (Credit: Laura Büllesbach)

Your contribution

Last year heavy snowfall caused unprecedented damage to the roof at Port Lockroy, our flagship Antarctic base. The climate is warming, conditions are changing and we are seeing the impact. We need to urgently repair the roof and also make it structurally safe for the future, working with skilled heritage carpenters to make repairs and preserve the building’s authenticity.

Every postcard and donation counted towards raising an amazing £20,000 towards this urgent conservation project. Thanks to your generosity Bransfield House will celebrate its 80th anniversary next year safe and secure for years to come. 

We’d love to see the moment your postcards reach you so please share photos on social media and tag us. We’d love to see how your postcards connected you and your loved ones with Antarctica. 

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• Twitter: @AntarcticHT