Each year Polar Record calls upon numerous scholars to assist in the demanding and intensive refereeing and peer-review procedures for manuscripts submitted for publication. These individuals give generously of their time and expertise to help insure that a high academic quality is maintained in Polar Record. During the preparation of the four issues for 2006, some 70 individuals assisted in the review and refereeing process. Our deep appreciation for their assistance is offered to all of these individuals, including the following

Baron Gaston de Gerlache de Gomery died on 13 July 2006 at the age of 86 (Fig. 1). On 11 January 1958, the 60 year old flag of Belgica flew once more in Antarctica when a short ceremony marked the construction of a geophysical observatory in Dronning Maud Land. This Belgian contribution to the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957–1958, as well as the subsequent Belgian Antarctic programmes were made possible thanks to the interest, initiative and unrelenting effort of Baron Gaston de Gerlache de Gomery. Like his famous father Adrien de Gerlache, at the end of the previous century, he managed to convince politicians and scientists that the world was not confined by the borders of Belgium.