Michael Palin - The beginning of his RGS Days

"I never thought geography would be this exciting"

I've been listening to Michael Palin's most recent diary. It takes him up to the end of 2009.

May 2009

Michael Palin is introduced to the role of President of the Society with a vote on a proposal from the Beagle Group to do more for expeditions. The Beagle Group is described here by Al Humphreys.

Robin Hanbury-Tenison was one of the people behind the Beagle Group. The potential split is described here, with some of the names that Palin mentions.

He also describes going to see "Encounters at the End of the World" - Werner Herzog's Antarctica 

I created the education resources for this film, and was invited to the premiere.

He also attends the Palestine Literary Festival.... so much has changed since that year.

He visits in early June and spends a lot of time with Rita in her office, sitting at David Livingstone's table - a table I have sat at several times. He lays on a party for the staff at the RGS, where he says that his first Presidential address will be to the most important people in the Society.

He talks about his first RGS Council and receiving the papers. I know that feeling.

He talks about assembling around the Council table - mostly men... Barnaby Lenon gets a mention.

"We must communicate our strengths and talk to our members and fellows more."

"Light must be let in."

Geography begins to take over the diaries towards the middle of 2009.

The next edition of the diaries will be very much more linked to Palin's time as President, chairing Monday' Night lectures et al. He talks about the various roles of the President, with texts to write:

• Autumn Bulletins
• President's report
• Appeal for Lowther Lodge - successful and led to the creation of the very nice Member's Room.
• Initiatives - "Michael Meets" - a series of interviews

Commissioning a booklet on the history of Lowther Lodge. This is available to download.

He also meets up with Nicholas Crane in July to talk about the RGS - as a former President himself he knows a lot about it.

He has lunch with John Hemming, who I have met over drinks at the RGS.

There is a lot more to come... I'll share some of the other things that he says when he comes to them. And his next volume of diaries will have several years' worth of RGS stories included...