Ascension : The “Supertankars”
Submitted by The Islander (Raymond Ellick) 18.01.2007 (Article Archived on 01.02.2007)
Shub & Raxa arrived on Ascension along with “tiny tots”, Priya and Anjuli, in September 1982, just after the Falklands war. Nearly 25 years later they are about to leave as Shub retires as the Island`s Senior Medical Officer.
Dr Shub, Senior Medical Officer and his wife Raxa having been here since 1982, will be leaving Ascension Island on the 23rd January 2007.
For many of us that have been fortunate enough to have known them both over these years and been in their care, it will be a very sad occasion to see them leave and somehow our small community won’t be the same again without them.
Shub was appointed initially as Medical Officer / Surgeon with Cable & Wireless, who ran the common island services back then, before the new Ascension Island Services was formed in 1984. He took over his current role as Senior Medical Officer in 1990 and ends his career on Ascension with the Ascension Island Government.
Outside of work, both Shub & Raxa have been very active members of the island community throughout the years and it’s difficult to think of many aspects of life here that have not benefited from their help and involvement. Yet despite this they still found time to raise their two beautiful daughters Priya and Anjuli, who spent part of their schooling here and returned regularly to the island – they both made a point of visiting again in recent months to, like the mum and dad, say their farewells to the many friends they made here over the years.
Raxa, although having spent considerable periods of time working on the island as a nurse/medic at both the hospital in Georgetown and the US Base Dispensary, will be remembered most for her voluntary help with Ascension Day Fare committees, The Islander newspaper, Radio Station, the first Island Council and much other charitable support. For this she was very deservedly awarded an M.B.E. in the Queens New Years Honours in 2005. She’s been a keen hasher, runner and walker over the years.
Oh yes, and of course that wonderful Indian cooking! (especially No 25!)
Shub has been a great supporter of island sport, where he was a long time Chairman of the Sports Committee, umpire and renowned cricketer (in his day!), and long time squash partner, whilst his help with ADFs and the scouts over many years will also be missed.
It will be though as “Dr Shub”, that we’ll remember him best - more than anyone I’ve ever known, he has conscientiously cared for and about all his patients.
He has delivered 156 “Ascensionites” over these years, performed numerous operations, treated our coughs and sneezes, aches and pains and been there with us at our happiest and saddest times. With his continuous updating of training and skills over the years, a more professional “professional” you couldn’t meet and he will be a very hard, if not impossible, act to follow. For this he gets my M.B.E. as “Medicines Best Envoy”.
More than any plaques, photographs or awards, however, that they could ever achieve, their kindness and the many rich and fond memories we hold so dear of them over the past 25 years will remain their lasting affect on Ascension. To say we’ll miss you…….
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