Earnest Shackleton Discovery

Today is Earnest Shackleton's birthday, I was minded of this by Google doodle, so I visited the Ship moored in Dundee just 14 miles from my home. It was cold but nothing like the conditions the explorers endured over 100 years ago.

Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, CVO, OBE (15 February 1874 – 5 January 1922) was an Anglo-Irish explorer who was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. His first experience of the polar regions was as third officer on Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, from which he was sent home early on health grounds. Determined to make amends for this perceived personal failure, he returned to Antarctica in 1907 as leader of the Nimrod Expedition. In January 1909 he and three companions made a southern march which established a record Farthest South latitude at 88°23'S, 97 geographical miles (114 statute miles, 190 km) from the South Pole, by far the closest convergence in exploration history up to that time. For this achievement, Shackleton was knighted by King Edward VII on his return home.

After the race to the South Pole ended in 1912 with Roald Amundsen's conquest, Shackleton turned his attention to what he said was the one remaining great object of Antarctic journeying–the crossing of the continent from sea to sea, via the pole. To this end he made preparations for what became the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914–17. Disaster struck this expedition when its ship, Endurance, was trapped in pack ice and slowly crushed, before the shore parties could be landed. There followed a sequence of exploits, and an ultimate escape with no lives lost, that would eventually assure Shackleton's heroic status, although this was not immediately evident.[1] In 1921 he went back to the Antarctic with the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition, intending to carry out a programme of scientific and survey activities. Before the expedition could begin this work Shackleton died of a heart attack while his ship, Quest, was moored in South Georgia. At his wife's request he was buried there.

RSS Discovery permanently docked on the riverside in Dundee, City of Discovery.



This Shackleton's cabin off the officers dining room, next to Captain Scott's cabin. Incidentally this dining room can be hired for functions, seating a maximum of 14, twelve preferred and a minimum of 10.



The dining room is totally private with your own Chef and waiting team. oil lamp and candle lit. Included is a private tour of Discovery, above and below decks, The evening would start at 19-00 hours finishing at midnight. Sumptuous Deluxe three or four course meals with extensive wine list.
Where else can one enjoy such an historic maritime experience, Unique. Go on, spoil yourself and others. Contact, Lisa Williamson, Discovery Point, Discovery Quay, Dundee DD1 4XA. Tel 01382 309060, fax, 01382 225 891.

For further information.