In 1963, aged 17, I won a school prize and chose the biggest book offered: ‘South!’ It opened my mind to polar exploration, and I dreamed of following that path. Initiating a university expedition to Arctic Norway in 1966, I applied to BAS as a geologist in 1967 – only to discover that they didn’t accept women! Frustrated, I read widely and watched every TV program about Antarctica, longing to help protect its environment. In 1999, inspired by the cover photo of ‘Life in the Freezer’ I designed the Antarctic Tartan, a symbolic ‘map’ incorporating its vivid colours. Thanks to Shackleton’s ‘South’!
Rosalind Jones