Special delivery for Antarctic scientists

SCIENTISTS working at a remote British research station in the Antarctic received a special delivery of a new Royal Mail post box in time for Christmas - thanks to the King.

- LAURA ELSTON

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 British Antarctic Survey (BAS) said.

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.

Aurelia Reichardt, station leader at Rothera, described the present as "having a piece of home with us".

"It’s such an honour 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.