Ascension : Queen’s Birthday Celebrations
Submitted by The Islander (Nathan Prince) 29.06.2006 (Article Archived on 13.07.2006)

On Saturday 17 June the Administrator HH Mr Michael Hill and his wife Elizabeth hosted a reception at The Residency to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s 80th Birthday.

 The event was attended by a wide cross section of people on the island. Background music was provided by the Woodwind Quintet of the Minden Band of The Queen’s Division which had flown out from the UK specially to play at the Reception.

Mr Hill’s speech focussed on The Queen’s ongoing commitment to public service adding that Her Majesty’s position as Head of State and Head of the Commonwealth provides an enduring framework of stability and continuity in a changing world. He also referred to Ascension’s own position as a symbol of continuity. The island continues to be an important member of the small community of British Overseas Territories, forming a vital link in the airbridge between the UK and the Falkland Islands, providing a base of operations for a number of important institutions and continuing to provide employment opportunities for people from St Helena, the UK and elsewhere. He added that recent UK government conclusions meant that the structures and systems on Ascension must remain within existing parameters but within those constraints consideration was being given to what development might be possible and to how Ascension might move forward.

Mr Hill also congratulated Mrs Raxa Sukhtankar for her award of an OBE in this year’s Birthday Honours; and presented Chief Scout Gold Awards to nine Ascension Island Scouts.