Ascension : ENGLISH BAY BEACH BARBEQUE
Submitted by The Islander (Gavin Yon) 21.12.2006 (Article Archived on 04.01.2007)

People who have recently been down to English Bay beach may have noticed that a new barbeque has appeared.

People who have recently been down to English Bay beach may have noticed that a new barbeque has appeared. 

I believe the original was built, as a community project for the Island to use, by Turtle Truss Royal Engineers back in 1997; please correct me if I am wrong.

Inspecting what remained of the structure, it was apparent that it had been abused in more recent times, to such an extent that it had become an eyesore and health hazard.

It is very sad that this facility had been completely ruined by the very community it was supplied for, just because people could not be bothered to treat with some respect and to clear up their mess afterwards.  Mess incidentally, which had accumulated into deep solidified piles of ash, rotting food, old embers, broken glass and thousands of nails; not very pleasant at all.

A couple of weeks ago a few generous and kind hearted soles volunteered to correct the situation.  So, Al Honer (RAF Police), Liz Penrose (visiting IDL) Dai Naylor (Met Office) and Steve Roulston (Serco), set about demolishing what was now a blot on the landscape.  After some serious graft and aggression the job was completed over a weekend.

We were indebted to IDL for the loan of essential equipment including a skip, wheelbarrow and shovels, thank you Justin. 

Morrison’s and A B H Jordan (the Tank professionals) volunteered to build a new barbeque.  They duly constructed it in no time at all, unfortunately on the very same day it was completed, and I hasten to add, still drying out, some impatient person/s fired it up.  Consequently the mortar cracked and therefore some of the structured had to be rebuilt!!

The barbeque looks the business and is once more available for the community to enjoy.  However, please be aware that if this area continues to be abused and not kept clean, the barbeque will be removed for good.

There are litter bins at the beach so please use them.  Clearly hot ashes can not be cleared away on the night but how much trouble is it to return in the morning? 

Steve Roulston