Atkinson Robert
16.05.1981.
16 May 1981, Rothera.
Robert Atkinson and John Anderson lost their lives on the Shambles Glacier, near Rothera on 16th May 1981. Robert's skidoo had broken down and he was travelling on the back of John Anderson's. They were following a track to base but encountered bad weather and seem to have strayed from the track falling into a crevasse. Their bodies were never recovered. There is a single memorial cross on Rothera Point.
Robert's sister Margaret Pritchard has written to say that Robert trained as a chef at Rotherham Catering College where he gained "all his certificates". He worked at hotels in Sheffield, Doncaster and London before joining the British Antarctic Survey.
Robert Atkinson's father Eric has been in contact with the Trust and wrote to say that Robert was "25 years, three months and 27 days when he lost his life."
Stephen Tait's account
An account of the accident was written in a book Shambles by Stephen Tait, an experienced climber and GA at Rothera. He had taken Robert Atkinson for a few days break to the northern tip of Adelaide Island in bad weather and in winter. On their return they were met at the head of the Shambles Glacier by John Anderson and Nigel Hadley who had sledged out from base. They were enveloped by a storm that lasted six days and was so severe it had blown the skiddoos aside and scattered their equipment. It took a day to dig out their tents, gather their equipment and prepare to descend the steep intensively crevassed glacier. In near white out conditions they mistook their route and Atkinson who had been travelling on a sledge towed by Tait's skidoo joined Anderson on his skidoo. It was a fatal mistake. Minutes later in the murk the men and skidoo fell to their deaths in an unseen crevasse. There is an article about Stephen on BBC News and in WALESonline at the time of the publication of his book.
Antarctic Place Name
Crevasse accident on the Shambles Glacier – May 1981
Anderson Buttress and Atkinson Ridge are two features named for John Anderson and Robert Atkinson to the south of Shambles Glacier where they died in a crevasse accident on 16 May 1981.
Atkinson Ridge 67°23’22”S, 68°26’41”W
Named for Robert Atkinson (1956-1981), chef at Rothera Research Station; Atkinson Ridge with exposed rock running north to south on the north side of Mount Mangin, Adelaide Island.
Robert Atkinson and John Anderson lost their lives on the Shambles Glacier, near Rothera on 16th May 1981. Robert's skidoo had broken down and he was travelling on the back of John Anderson's. They were following a track to base but encountered bad weather and seem to have strayed from the track falling into a crevasse. Their bodies were never recovered. There is a single memorial cross on Rothera Point.
Robert's sister Margaret Pritchard has written to say that Robert trained as a chef at Rotherham Catering College where he gained "all his certificates". He worked at hotels in Sheffield, Doncaster and London before joining the British Antarctic Survey.
Robert Atkinson's father Eric has been in contact with the Trust and wrote to say that Robert was "25 years, three months and 27 days when he lost his life."
Stephen Tait's account
An account of the accident was written in a book Shambles by Stephen Tait, an experienced climber and GA at Rothera. He had taken Robert Atkinson for a few days break to the northern tip of Adelaide Island in bad weather and in winter. On their return they were met at the head of the Shambles Glacier by John Anderson and Nigel Hadley who had sledged out from base. They were enveloped by a storm that lasted six days and was so severe it had blown the skiddoos aside and scattered their equipment. It took a day to dig out their tents, gather their equipment and prepare to descend the steep intensively crevassed glacier. In near white out conditions they mistook their route and Atkinson who had been travelling on a sledge towed by Tait's skidoo joined Anderson on his skidoo. It was a fatal mistake. Minutes later in the murk the men and skidoo fell to their deaths in an unseen crevasse. There is an article about Stephen on BBC News and in WALESonline at the time of the publication of his book.
Antarctic Place Name
Crevasse accident on the Shambles Glacier – May 1981
Anderson Buttress and Atkinson Ridge are two features named for John Anderson and Robert Atkinson to the south of Shambles Glacier where they died in a crevasse accident on 16 May 1981.
Atkinson Ridge 67°23’22”S, 68°26’41”W
Named for Robert Atkinson (1956-1981), chef at Rothera Research Station; Atkinson Ridge with exposed rock running north to south on the north side of Mount Mangin, Adelaide Island.
Family's archive photos
