FEW people know that Sheila Bransfield, 63, a well-known figure in local politics and chairman of Acol parish council, is also an authority on the man who is credited with discovering the Antarctic, Edward Bransfield.

Sheila said: "As a small child I was told one of my ancestors discovered Antarctica but it wasn’t until years later I thought ‘my god, this story could be true’.

"I started to look into Edward’s history about 40 years ago. I heard a news report about the British Antarctic Survey launching a boat called RRS Bransfield which made me think my family stories might be true.

"At that time I had small children, was working and also singing in a local group so it took me years to find time to make a proper start."

That television report sparked a life-long passion for maritime history and explorer Edward Bransfield and, in 2003, Sheila was rewarded for her efforts with an MA in maritime history from the University of Greenwich. Edward Bransfield was the subject of her dissertation.

How did Sheila’s ancestor end up discovering Antarctica?

She explained: "Edward was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1795. He was press-ganged into the Royal Navy aged 18 and after a number of years, working his way through the ranks, he became ship’s master which is the highest rank for a non-commissioned officer.

"His Antarctic discovery happened just by chance. In 1819 he was master on board the frigate Andromache which was anchored at Valparaiso in Chile. A whaling ship, the Williams, came alongside and the captain reported that while sailing south of Cape Horn they had found land which was not shown on any of the charts."

Edward Bransfield was ordered by his captain to commandeer the Williams and its crew and, with just two midshipmen and a surgeon from the Andromache, sailed southward to map the land masses.

One of the ships logs, kept by midshipman Poynter, turned up 10 years ago and is now kept in a New Zealand library. Sheila used a copy to help in her dissertation.

As well as sketches and rudimentary maps the log contains detailed descriptions of the explorers’ experiences. One colourful passage from January 1820, the month in which Edward Brandsfield discovered the Antarctic, describes how "one of the crew had his hand dreadfully lacerated by a sea elephant" which is thought to be a leopard seal.

It also describes large birds, possibly skuas, which "seemed particularly savage and with loud screeches pound down and frequently strike with the wing – a dog we had was completely covered with blood by being attacked in this manner."

Sheila, who lives with partner David Hayfield and has two sons, one daughter and four grandchildren, is intent on continuing her research into Edward’s history and his connections with her family despite her busy lifestyle.

She said: "Edward didn’t have children so he may be my great-great-great uncle rather than grandfather but I’m still tracing exactly how he fits into my family."

Her research has already introduced Sheila to a variety of interesting experiences including an invitation to a Buckingham Palace garden party by Prince Philip in 2003 and helping to design first day covers for a series of stamps on British explorers this January. But the highlight of her research has to be a trip she made in 1999.

She said: "I decided I should visit the Antarctic and eventually went by myself 10 years ago.

"The trip took 15 days in a small Russian whaling ship with just 100 passengers and we all joked that is was actually on a spying mission. Before I went I lost about two stone with worry but it was just fantastic."