The Redditch Society

10:48am Tuesday 15th April 2008

THE AGM took place on March 14. After the completion of the business there was a talk by Gill Wiggins, a member of the society, on her visits to Baffin Island she has made on three occasions, each time at a different period of the year which enabled her to see the varying appearances of the island.

It is situated North of Canada and in Winter the temperature can be as low as -350F. It is populated by Inuit people and it is incorrect to refer to them as Eskimos which means something different.

The people live in settlements which can be as far apart as 250 miles. There is only one hospital on the island situated in the south, although some settlements may have a doctor.

The weather is warmer in the summer and varieties of plants are to be seen.

Icebergs, which there are many, will sometimes start floating towards the open sea, but they may not complete their journey before the next freezing period.

Often they can be seen marooned once again with their original base pointing upwards.

The means of transport is mainly sledges of various types, drawn by dogs, or motorised.

Some sledges are of a long flat construction for transporting goods.

The dogs used are not pets and should not be approached by strangers, and when they are not working they are tethered at a distance from each other as they can be vicious.

The talk was illustrated by a very comprehensive collection of slides.

Our next season of talks commence on September 19 when the subject will be "Design and Construction of the London Eye".

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