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IGS revisits Sheepleas despite heavy rain

The Imperial Geographical Society (IGS) today conducted an expedition to Sheepleas, attempting to retrace a route last taken in 2010. In a sign of his continued involvement in some non-governmental institutions following the recent implementation of a regency, the expedition was led by Emperor Jonathan I, the Society’s Director-General. The 2010 IGS expedition had first explored Sheepleas, a nature reserve in Surrey, before walking through woods and farmland in West Horsely, forming a figure-of-eight route centred on the 11th century St Mary’s Church. However, today’s expedition was unable to follow the whole of 2010’s route due to torrential rain significantly impeding their progress. The expedition reached the church in double the time it had expected to take, and so had lunch there in the shelter of its porch before deciding to cancel the northern circuit of the route and head back via another path through the nature reserve. Sheepleas is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, notable for the diversity of its plants and wildlife as well as being of geological interest. Ten people were on today’s expedition. The IGS has conducted an expedition to areas of countryside in Surrey on the first Monday of May every year since 2009, with the exceptions of 2018, 2020 and 2021. The Emperor and his parents were joined by Emperor Mother Margaret’s brother Lord Michael and his wife Lady Rosalind, as well as five members of Carshalton Methodist Church. The heavy rain made it difficult for recording equipment to be used, but a short video of the expedition composed of what was able to be filmed will be uploaded in the coming days.

IGS Expedition revisits Banstead Heath

Monday 1st May saw an expedition of the Imperial Geographical Society (IGS) explore an area of Surrey countryside first visited by the Society in 2011. The expedition – led by Emperor Jonathan I – consisted of nine people, including Emperor Father Terry, Emperor Mother Margaret, and the latter’s sister-in-law Lady Boxall. The former Lord Marshal William had been planning to join the expedition along with his mother, which would have pushed the numbers up to eleven, but could not do so due to car problems. The IGS has long had an annual tradition of launching an expedition on the first Monday of May to explore countryside in the British county of Surrey, with the first of said expeditions taking place in 2009. Monday’s expedition revisited the same area explored by the 2011 expedition, with some slight adjustments to the route. The expedition explored Banstead Heath and adjoining wooded areas with a mostly circular route, then briefly headed south over the M25 motorway to see the view from the top of local vantage point Colley Hill before heading back to the start point. The expedition stopped for lunch in a sunny clearing, and later on stopped again for a tea and coffee break at The Sportsman, a nearby pub which is also of significance to the Imperial Family for having hosted the wake of Dame Bette (Emperor Mother to the former Terry I) in 2012. The route taken also encountered several coal tax posts, nineteenth century structures marking a boundary around London for tax purposes. While 2011’s expedition was remembered as being very windy, Monday’s was much less so, although the weather was somewhat mercurial, alternating between brilliant sunshine and heavy showers. It was also noted that various footpaths were far muddier than remembered! A video of the expedition will be published shortly.

Imperial Geographical Society returns to Woldingham

The Imperial Geographical Society (IGS) has conducted an expedition through woods and farmland south-west of the British town of Woldingham. The expedition re-traced the route of a previous expedition, held in 2014. The expedition was planned and led by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, who was joined by twelve other people, including the Imperial Family, Princess Hannah, Lady Boxall (the former Dame Rosalind), and the former residents of Zephyria. Although Princess Hannah has been on two IGS expeditions in the past, this was the first time that she had joined one of the larger May excursions. It was also the first time that the former Lord Marshal William had joined an IGS expedition since the very first, in 2009. Re-tracing the steps of the 2014 expedition, the participants were able to compare aspects of the route to their encounter eight years ago; for example, a well-known viewpoint was partially obscured by new tree growth, and various landmarks noted along the way in 2014 were no longer there this time round. The IGS, since 2009, has customarily launched an annual expedition at the start of May exploring an area of countryside in Surrey. Due to restrictions on gatherings in the United Kingdom implemented as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the annual May expedition could not go ahead as usual in 2020 and 2021 (although May 2020 did see an IGS expedition in North America). However, with all legal restrictions in the UK now lifted, the annual expedition was able to be resumed. With thirteen participants in this expedition, it was larger than the original 2014 one, which had ten. After the expedition, Emperor Jonathan I and his parents joined Princess Hannah and John of Zephyria for refreshments in a garden centre café on the way back to Carshalton. A video of today’s expedition will be uploaded shortly.

Expedition of the Imperial Geographical Society to Box Hill

The Imperial Geographical Society (IGS) earlier today conducted an expedition to Box Hill in Surrey. The expedition traversed valleys and woodland around Box Hill on its way to the viewpoint at the top of the hill itself, which commands a spectacular view of Dorking and the surrounding countryside. On their way up the hill, the expedition encountered a large bed of bluebells and some mysterious tiles embedded in the woodland floor. Fourteen people took part in the expedition, including Emperor Jonathan I, the Emperor Mother, and Crown Princess Caroline. The route had been planned by John, former Baron of Zephyria. This marks the twentieth expedition of the IGS, almost ten years to the day since its first was conducted on 4 May 2009. A video of the expedition will soon be uploaded. UPDATE – 3 October 2019: A video of the expedition can now be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKSUyeyNNWg

Lily dies aged 7

Lily, Mascot of the Order of the Bullmastiff, has died aged 7. Lily was born in 2010 to Rose, a pet bullmastiff of the Imperial Family who also served as Mascot. She was sold to a family living in the British county of Surrey, and was visited by members of the Imperial Family in 2010 and 2011. Upon the death of Edd in April last year, Lily was appointed the Order of the Bullmastiff’s new Mascot. Lily’s death was announced earlier this evening by her owners. She had been experiencing health issues since late last year. Lily was the last surviving member of the Carothan kennel of bullmastiffs, and her death has left the position of Mascot vacant for the first time since its creation by Terry I in January 2009. If no bullmastiff can be found, there is provision for a dog of another breed to be appointed Honorary Mascot. Jonathan I has sent a message of condolence to Lily’s owners, expressing sympathy at her death and thanking them for giving her a loving home.

IGS Expedition to Cheam and Nonsuch Parks

The Imperial Geographical Society yesterday conducted an expedition of exploration through Cheam Park and the adjoining Nonsuch Park. The two parks together make up a large area of fields and woodland which straddles the border between the London Borough of Sutton and the county of Surrey. The expedition of three was led by Emperor Jonathan I, and discovered a dry riverbed, some basic wooden shelters constructed in the woods, and some wild parakeets. Views of various London landmarks, including Battersea Power Station, Wembley Stadium, and the BT Tower were available from high ground on Cheam Park.