IT was possibly the coldest, most remote and extreme Diamond Jubilee street party in the world.

But despite temperatures dropping to a toe-curling -70C and complete darkness until August, one Oxford doctor was determined to celebrate in style.

Alexander Kumar, who works at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, is spending a year in Antarctica conducting scientific experiments.

He said: “As the only British member on the base and the only British person for over 1,000km in all directions, I felt it my duty to host a tea party.

“The British flag was blown around a fair bit. In such cold, the tea cup actually sticks to your lips.

“And outdoors in -70C, the tea freezes solid in less than a minute once served.”

Dr Kumar, a trainee anaesthetics doctor with the Oxford School of Anaesthesia, is running physiological and psychological experiments for the European Space Agency.

The last plane until November took off from his Concordia base in February, leaving him and 12 colleagues completely alone and stranded for nine months.

To celebrate the Jubilee on Tuesday, Dr Kumar treated his colleagues to tea and scones, before enjoying a celebratory dinner.

Dr Kumar, who celebrated his 29th birthday last Thursday, said: “I was given a gift of Fortnum and Mason tea before I departed to Antarctica and have been saving it, alongside a single can of Heinz Baked Beans, for a special occasion.

“My first batch of scones I have ever made were also a success – nearly all were eaten and they held it together and remained soft for long enough to eat.”

He added: “This is the furthest anyone could get from enjoying a pleasant afternoon tea on summer's day in Oxford.”

The team is currently living through four months of darkness in the world’s worst winter. Temperatures hover around -70C, dropping to a windchill factor of -88C.

Concordia is situated at 3,800m above sea level in the world’s largest desert.

Dr Kumar said: “I know we were not the only remote population celebrating this landmark occasion.

“Speaking on behalf of this year’s Concordia station’s multi-national crew, DC8, I would like to reach out and extend our warmest regards from the world’s coldest location, to not only Her Majesty but also all the British overseas territories worldwide, British Antarctic Survey’s overwintering teams on this continent and tea-drinking communities.

“I hope they too celebrated in the same style – but also hope they will have more time to enjoy their tea than we will.”

l Dr Kumar is hosting live video calls to classrooms in the UK. If any Oxfordshire school wants to set up a call to one of its classes, visit alexanderkumar.com l See Saturday’s Oxford Mail for a four-page round-up of your Jubilee street party pictures