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The World's Coolest Street Party Plans are underway for the world's coolest 'street party' to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee on June 3rd. Twenty scientists and support staff at the British Antarctic Survey's (BAS) Rothera Research Station will ignite a gas-fired beacon - minutes after the Queen lights the national beacon on the evening of 3rd June. It is the first time that a beacon has been lit in Antarctica to commemorate a Royal occasion.  In the midst of Antarctic winter darkness, celebrations will begin with an outdoor feast in sub-zero temperatures. Jubilee decorations and tables decked with the Union Flag will get the party spirit going. A commemorative 'Jubilee Weather Observation' will be made at the exact time the Queen lights her beacon in London. Director of BAS, Professor Chris Rapley says: "I have given all staff at our Antarctic research stations the day off to take part in this major national celebration - I am sure they will have a lot of fun. The party is an excellent prelude to the traditional Antarctic mid-winter celebrations on 21 June." The Golden Jubilee Summer Party Chairman, Bruno Peek OBE says: "I was delighted to be able to provide BAS with a specially adapted gas-fired beacon for this unique celebration and to ensure that the festivities are enjoyed in one of the most extreme environments on Earth." -ENDS- NOTES TO EDITORS Pictures of the
celebrations will be available on 3rd June. To organize
broadcast interviews please contact: The British Antarctic Territory is the region of Antarctica over which the United Kingdom claims sovereignty. It includes all the lands and islands in a wedge extending from the South Pole to 60°S latitude between longitudes 20°W and 80°W. It is administered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as an Overseas Dependent Territory. The British Antarctic Territory issues its own postage stamps. Although the United Kingdom claims sovereignty over this region, there are overlapping claims by Argentina and Chile. Under the terms of the Antarctic Treaty (1961), all territorial claims remain frozen, allowing the whole of Antarctica to be used as a continent for peace and science. British Antarctic Survey is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council and is responsible for the majority of the UK Government's research in Antarctica. The Survey employs over 400 staff, and supports three stations in the Antarctic, at Rothera, Halley and Signy, and two stations on South Georgia, at King Edward Point (since 2001) and Bird Island. The Antarctic operations and science programmes are executed and managed from Cambridge, and rely on the support of a wide-ranging team of professional staff. Date: 4th February
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