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Post office team picked for Antarctic Port Lockroy base | Post office team picked for Antarctic Port Lockroy base |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Five people have beaten off competition from more than 200 people to run the UK's most remote post office in Antarctica. | Five people have beaten off competition from more than 200 people to run the UK's most remote post office in Antarctica. |
The team will man the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust's post office at Port Lockroy for four months. | The team will man the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust's post office at Port Lockroy for four months. |
The first permanent British base to be established on the Antarctic Peninsula, it has been run as a museum and post office for tourists since 2006. | The first permanent British base to be established on the Antarctic Peninsula, it has been run as a museum and post office for tourists since 2006. |
The new postmasters start work in November and return to the UK in March. | The new postmasters start work in November and return to the UK in March. |
Each year, the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, which is based in Cambridge, advertises for a new intake of seasonal postal workers. | Each year, the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, which is based in Cambridge, advertises for a new intake of seasonal postal workers. |
Hundreds apply despite there being no running water or mains electricity and the job involving working in sub-zero temperatures 11,000 miles away from home. | Hundreds apply despite there being no running water or mains electricity and the job involving working in sub-zero temperatures 11,000 miles away from home. |
As well as running the office, museum and shop, the chosen team monitors the island's resident gentoo penguin population. | As well as running the office, museum and shop, the chosen team monitors the island's resident gentoo penguin population. |
Several brooms are sent to the team each year to clean the penguin droppings outside the building - which the trust admits would otherwise look like "a penguin toilet". | Several brooms are sent to the team each year to clean the penguin droppings outside the building - which the trust admits would otherwise look like "a penguin toilet". |
Meet the postmasters | Meet the postmasters |
Port Lockroy, on Goudier Island, was home to explorers and whalers before becoming the first permanent British base to be established on the Antarctic Peninsula. | Port Lockroy, on Goudier Island, was home to explorers and whalers before becoming the first permanent British base to be established on the Antarctic Peninsula. |
Built in 1944, it was used as a science base until 1962, when it closed permanently. | Built in 1944, it was used as a science base until 1962, when it closed permanently. |
You may also be interested in: | |
Restoration began in the 1990s and since 2006 it has been managed as a post office and museum. | Restoration began in the 1990s and since 2006 it has been managed as a post office and museum. |
The island is deserted for most of the year but comes to life during the Antarctic summer when the trust's staff are shipped in and thousands of tourists begin arriving. | The island is deserted for most of the year but comes to life during the Antarctic summer when the trust's staff are shipped in and thousands of tourists begin arriving. |
More than 120 cruise ships visit the base during an average Antarctic summer season and tourists send more than 60,000 postcards home - each one franked by the postal workers. | More than 120 cruise ships visit the base during an average Antarctic summer season and tourists send more than 60,000 postcards home - each one franked by the postal workers. |
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