From circus tents to the world’s southernmost post office

25/02/2025

Port Lockroy postmaster George Clarke tells us how reading an article about last year's team led to a dream job at the bottom of the world.

Were you a postman back home? Did you have any Antarctic experience? How did you get the job of postmaster here at Port Lockroy? 

People are always curious about how I ended up here, at the world’s southernmost post office. Well, I’ve never worked for Royal Mail and this is my first visit to Antarctica. The answer is one of a chance encounter, oven gloves, jubilations and unexpected outcomes. Let me explain. 

It was February 2024; I was working away from home when I happened across an article about the previous year’s postmaster at Port Lockroy. The job sounded incredible and fantastical – being a postman in Antarctica sounded about as likely as being a traffic warden on the moon.

George's previous job was erecting circus tents (UKAHT/George Clarke) 

The more I read, the more extraordinary it sounded – a very special job in a very special part of the world. When I got to the end, I thought it sounded like an amazing opportunity and whoever got the job would be very lucky indeed. Then I finished reading and moved on to the next article about something or other that I’ve now completely forgotten about. 

I didn’t, however, forget about the postmaster at the bottom of the world, it stayed with me. A few days later on a quiet evening, it struck me, why not apply? I had some time on my hands and nothing to lose.  

I started looking through the application form and was surprised to see that a few of the questions and criteria related to my working experience of putting up big-top circus tents for music events. While jugglers and rock stars are few and far between in Antarctica, I was comfortable working away from home for months at a time in small crews with basic facilities, all things that would serve me well when spending months on a small island with five others and no running water. 

George at work in Port Lockroy (UKAHT/George Clarke)  

I was lucky enough to get an interview and was pleasantly surprised to be invited to the selection weekend. The tests and examinations we went through are a closely guarded secret, even those who partook aren’t completely sure what they were looking for. What I can say is that one test involved erecting a tent blindfolded and wearing oven gloves, and looking back I think the object of these weird and wonderful tasks was to demonstrate teamwork and willingness to get stuck in.  

The day I got the phone call offering me a position is one I shall never forget. It coincided with a fantastic display of the northern lights, the first time I’ve ever seen them and a very rare site in rural Oxfordshire which is where I was at the time. 

"I consider myself very lucky" (UKAHT/George Clarke) 

The next stage was meeting the rest of the team I would be joining on the island, an amazing bunch of incredibly inspirational people who constantly amaze and encourage me through their grit, determination and professionalism. I consider myself very lucky indeed to be sharing this experience with them. 

Every year, the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust sends a team to Port Lockroy and everybody has a different story to tell. I hope my story demonstrates that this dream job really is open to anyone.

– George Clarke, Postmaster, Port Lockroy