The world’s most remote job: five ‘everyday’ Brits manning Earth’s southernmost post office and museum (one of whom is tasked with telling the outside world they’re still alive)

Five ‘everyday’ Britons are about to undergo a major shock to the system: they are sent to live and work in one of the most remote and inhospitable places on earth.

This week the group is sent 9,000 miles away by the British Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) to staff Earth’s southernmost post office and museum on football field-sized Goudier Island. Their neighbors? About 1,000 gentoo penguins.

The small cluster of buildings in which they will live and work for five months is called ‘Base A, Port Lockroy’ – and is known as the birthplace of British Antarctic science.

They will have to deal with constant sunlight, sleeping in a shared bedroom, a complete lack of telephone reception and limited internet access via satellite connection.

There is no running water or a flush toilet – and if they want to shower, they have to wait until they can board one of the semi-regular cruise ships that dock in the port.

However, temperatures will be a relatively mild -5 degrees Celsius as they will be stationed there during the Antarctic summer.

The adventurers are Lou Hoskin, Maggie Coll, George Clarke, Aoife McKenn and Dale Ellis, alongside returning team member Lisa Ford.

Dale Ellis, who works in media and the arts, will manage the island’s gift shop, selling bottles of gin and postcards to cruise ship passengers.

Five ‘everyday’ Brits are sent 9,000 miles away by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust to man Earth’s southernmost post office and museum (on right) on football field-sized Goudier Island

The five Brits on their way to Goudier Island (from left to right): Aoife McKenna (Museum Manager), George Clarke (Postmaster), Lou Hoskin (Base Leader), Dale Ellis (Shop Manager), Maggie Coll (Wildlife Monitor)

George, who works in set design, becomes postmaster and handles thousands of postcards sent by cruisers.

The living museum – a tribute to previous Antarctic Peninsula scientists – will fall under Aoife’s remit. She notes, “I’m most looking forward to seeing the penguins and their whole life cycle. I’m also looking forward to seeing the museum and sharing its stories.”

Wildlife monitor Maggie will count the nests, eggs and chicks of the penguins on the island. The former tourism worker says: ‘Having penguins as neighbors will be absolutely incredible.’

The small group of buildings in which they will live and work is called ‘Base A, Port Lockroy’ (above) – and is known as the birthplace of British Antarctic science

The living museum (above) pays tribute to previous scientists of the Antarctic Peninsula

There is no running water or flushing toilet on the island (above the boathouse) – and if the group wants to shower, they will have to wait until they can board one of the semi-regular cruise ships that dock in the harbor

Maggie says: ‘Having penguins as neighbors will be absolutely incredible’

The team may also encounter crabeater and leopard seals, woodlice, sea urchins, anemones and snowy sheathbills.

RNLI crew member Lou Hoskin will act as base leader, ensuring there is never a shortage of fuel and food. Every day she sends a Proof of Life at Port Lockroy (POLAPL) message to UKAHT Operations, clarifying that everyone is still alive.

She says she’s looking forward to “burrowing into our house upon arrival” and learning to speak “gentoo.”

The training for the five included remote first aid instruction, lessons about the fragile environment and talks from a ‘penguinologist’.

Later in the season, the five will be joined by Conservation Carpenters, who will work on restoring historic buildings. You’ll then meet specialists looking to reach the remote Blaiklock Island Refuge – UKAHT’s smallest and most inaccessible site and a time capsule of scientists who worked there in the 1950s.

Temperatures will be a relatively mild -5C as the five Brits will be based at Base A (above) during the Antarctic summer

RNLI crew member Lou Hoskin will act as base leader, ensuring there is never a shortage of fuel and food. Every day she sends a Proof of Life at Port Lockroy (POLAPL) message to UKAHT Operations, clarifying that everyone is still alive