By J. Brock (FINN)

Myriam Booth receives an engraved bowl from H. E. the Governor Mr. Howard Pearce  in recognition of 43 years' service for British Antarctic Survey.

With the honoured guests, including the one with the speech, still aloft in the Tristar, H. E. the Governor, Mr Howard Pearce, stepped into the breach and became Pooh Bah of sorts, at Myriam Booth’s retirement ceremony, held at the Chamber of Commerce Building on Thursday evening. "Unfortunately, they can’t be here for this very special occasion this evening," he said. "So if you look at me, just imagine looking at a member of the House of Lords, the Chief Executive of the National Environmental Research Council, the Director of British Antarctic Survey and so on," he continued. It was John Lawton, Chief Executive of the National Environment Research Council, which is actually the volume of British Antarctic Survey, who should have been delivering the speech.

The "They" Mr. Pearce referred to, not only included Professor Lawton but also Professor Chris Rapley, Director of British Antarctic Survey and Dr. David Walton, BAS’s Chief Scientist. Included in the prestigious group were Lord Parry Mitchell, Baroness Joan Walmsley, Lord Oxborough and Clerk, Rebecca Neal of the House of Lords Science and Technology select Committee.

"And, this is a very sad occasion, really," he went on, "to say sort of farewell to her and especially to say a very, very bit thank-you for the work that she has put in for the British Antarctic Survey here in the Falklands over - dare I say it – forty three years." At this point, however, Myriam was wreathed in smiles.

Myriam began to work for British Antarctic Survey when the office staffed seventy or eighty people. By the time Myriam retired, there was only one – herself- in the office. This meant that over those years, as the numbers diminished to the single figure, Myriam had to take on more and more tasks, "and become extraordinarily flexible, adaptable and all those sorts of very sterling qualities, which we associate with her," the Governor said.

In the early years of British Antarctic Survey, it was forbidden for women to travel to the Antarctic. But it was only in 1982, when Myriam had already been working for the Survey for 20 years, that the British Antarctic Survey took an extraordinarily difficult and revolutionary step to allow a woman down into the Antarctic. That woman was Myriam. She was able to go again in the late ‘90s on the Dash – 7 Aircraft.

There are many, many people who work for the Survey – F. I. D. S. – as they are still called – who are extremely grateful to Myriam for all her help and assistance over these many years. For that assistance, she has been recognised with the Fuchs Medal as well as an MBE. Myriam has another distinction, in that she is the longest serving member or any Organisation, which comes under the umbrella of the National Environment Research Council in the UK.

"It’s a very special thing for Falklands to be a forward base for the Survey, concluded Mr. Pearce. "Thank you for everything that you have done during those many, many years."

Myriam was then presented with an engraved lead-crystal bowl. After the traditional toast with Champaign, Myriam had her own back.

"Thank-you everyone. I am not one for speeches but over the last forth-three years, I have seen highs and lows, ins and outs and good and bad," she said. "In BAS, this last year has not been a good one. But we just go on and think of the good times." She went on.

"I’m not going to tell tales out of school. I am leaving BAS in the Good hands of Pauline Sackett, who, in this day and age is a computer whiz kid. And that’s what you need in this world. I know nothing about computers. So, I am quite happy to say so long. I’ll be around if needed."

Myriam plans to pay special attention to her record collection, as she has a keen interest in presenting Country and Western music over FIBS, the Islands’ radio station. Her heart and life are here in the Falklands and she intends to spend her retirement here.