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The Ascension Island Newspaper |
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The Ascension Island Newspaper |
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Thursday 10 September at 9.35
am saw the birth of Scott Lee Mare Coleman, pictured left with
his proud parents Derek and Angela. Scott weighed in at a
bouncing 7Ib 7oz. Angela works for Merlin Communications in the
Merlin Mess at Two Boats and Derek works for Turners GCMS at
Travellers Hill as a joiner/carpenter.
Locum midwife Heather Shepherd, standing in for Sue MacEwan, was delighted to have delivered one Ascension baby before returning to her native Northern Ireland, where she works at the Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast.
Pictured on the right, our new vicar and
his wife, Father & "s Keith James.
They are due to arrive on Ascension 29 September
1998. The Parish will ensure they will receive the usual
Ascension Island welcome!
FAREWELL TO FATHER MARTIN
The congregation of St. Mary's Church would like to express their thanks to Father Martin Payne for his time as minister on the Island. We all pray for his safe journey to St Helena and onwards to Cape Town, arriving back almost a year to the day from his departure. Little did he know, when he left to fill a temporary vacancy in St Helena, that he would end up on Ascension Island (including a trip to the Falklands) in his year away. We offer you our prayers and support for the future. God bless.
BATTLE OF BRITAIN SERVICE - SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 1998
With the departure of Father Martin this week on the RMS, the
congregation of St Mary's, and the resident RAF personnel would
like to welcome Rev. (Sqn Ldr) John Hughes to the Island. Rev
Hughes will be with us until 23 September, and will be conducting
the Battle of Britain service this Sunday at 1 000 hrs. This
service will be in place of the normal communion service. All are
welcome to attend.
The Exiles Club will be open afterwards for refreshments.
The 45th AIMG meeting, attended by the senior managers of organisations operating on Ascension, took place on 1 0 September. Matters discussed included the following:
Thanks: The Administrator thanked Rev Martin Payne and Mr Paul Abernethy, both leaving Ascension later in the month, for their past participation.
Advisory Forum. Next meeting Tuesday 15th September. All present were asked to encourage representation by their staff. Neither US nor RAF contractors are represented at present.
Youth Club. The club is very popular with island youngsters. On behalf of the committee the Administrator expressed his thanks to Mrs Bendall and her committee for organising the club. Ascension Day Fair: The proceeds, about £11,000 have been distributed (80% St Mary's, 20% island charities)
Exercise Turtle Heritage: The Royal Engineers will arrive shortly and have a busy programme of work on behalf of the civilian community. In mid-November the recce party for Turtle Heritage '99 will arrive. Suggestions for projects for 1999 should be channelled via the Administrator.
Island Postal Services: To deter its use by non-qualifying civilians, mail via the BFPO system addressed to non-military personnel is being surcharged by the Ascension Post Office. The Administrator has been asked to approach the RAF about an air parcel service to and from the UK. And there is some island concern that mail services will be affected if the new RMS schedule allows for fewer visits to the UK.
US Postal Service: The Administrator stressed that all residents valued this concession. He hoped that the privilege would not be withdrawn from non-US citizens.
Health & Safety at the Pierhead: New rules are being formulated. In synthesis they are likely to say that whichever organisation is using the pier at any one time should nominate a full-time, dedicated, barrier guard to prevent access during ship working operations by unauthorised persons
Chapel of Rest. The estimate for the complete works is £8,579.50 (or £1 0,329.50 if the roof is constructed with Decra tiles rather than corrugated onduline covering). The Administrator will discuss with organisations ways of raising the money. The meeting agreed that this was a high priority requirement.
No-go areas: The meeting agreed to produce a map showing all no-go areas (because of dangers due to RF radiation, physical risks etc). This, together with a written notice, to be handed out to the increasing number of visitors to Ascension (and to residents who regularly ignore the warning signs).
Ascension Day Sports: The Administrator congratulated Cpl Evans, the RAF PTI, and his committee and helpers for organising such a successful Sports Day on 30th August.
Range Safety: There have been complaints of inadequate warning when the range is in use and of possible danger to island residents. The usual procedure is to issue public notices 3 weeks in advance. Each military unit using the range is responsible for hoisting red flags and posting sentries to keep the public away from the danger area. Unfortunately this procedure had twice gone awry of late. The meeting was assured that procedures would be tightened up.
Some live cartridges had been found on the range by members of the public. In future the police/RAF authorities should be informed and items disposed of by professionals. Again procedures will be tightened up to minimise dangers. But it is inevitable that some rounds will be lost during action and the public is asked to take great-em when crossing the range.
Jetties: English Bay jetty rehabilitation work is taking longer than expected but should finish in early October. Timing is important because the BBC is expecting its fuel replenishment tanker to arrive sometime between 10-20 October.
TV Dish: The BBC has offered to provide a second TV channel (BBC World) if any island organisations have a spare (ideally 4 metres).
RF Radiation around English Bay: Under EC regulations, RF radiation danger areas have been reassessed. If applied to Ascension this could mean that English Bay would be designated as a hazard to the public (even though the actual level of radiation would not increase). The meeting expressed the hope that the new rules would not be applied. After all, the public had used English Bay since the 1960s and no harm had befallen them.
Teachers: three new teachers from St Helena arrive on 14 September.
Medical: Mr Sharpe will cover as surgeon during Shub's leave. Dr Reed will be Acting SMO. AIS Customer Services Officer: to be appointed in November.
USAF On-going works. - work is proceeding on the removal of old cables and telegraph poles. Poles are available for anyone who wants them.
Future works:
Operation Cyclone Change: taking place from 24 September for 10 days.
AOC Inspection: - AVM Sturley will make the annual RAF Station inspection on 30-31 October.
Visit by Director: - Mr Nick Koumarianos, C&W's Regional Director, to visit 9-11 November Museum Designer: Mr Simon Muirhead, in transit to St Helena from 11 - 1 4 September, has offered to assist the Heritage Society
Next meeting: The next meeting of the AIMG will take place Thursday 22 October. If any members of the public have items for discussion could they please inform either the Administrator or their respective Senior Manager.
Administrator's Office
Georgetown
14 September 1998
The Panel agreed the following programme:
1998
- 1 October -Christmas issue: four stamps showing Xmas activities on Ascension
1999
- 2 January -World War II Transport aircraft
- April -The Fairy Tem (in conjunction with the World Wildlife Fund)
- July - Union, Castle ships which have serviced Ascension over the years
- October '99 - Christmas issue. The Panel would welcome any suggestions for this issue. If possible the stamps should be (a) Christmassy, and (b) relevant to Ascension!
- 23 December Cable & Wireless centenary on Ascension
2000
- January - Millennium: British monarchs (this will be part of a multi-national Millennium stamp issue). Ascension stamps will depict monarchs of special relevance to Ascension (eg Henry VII (King when Ascension was discovered), George III (1815 when Ascension became a British Possession), Victoria (when the island expanded), George V (King when our first stamp issue was produced in 1922) and HM The Queen).
- Sometime - Tourism
- July - HM The Queen Mother's 1 00th Birthday
2001
- 500th Anniversary of Ascension's discovery by Juan da Nova
- 300th Anniversary of the wreck of Dampier's ship the "Roebuck"
Any suggestions of themes for future issues from members of the public would be welcome (including from Mr Phil Atley!). Please contact a member of the committee: Mrs Anita Stevens (C&W),. Mrs Theresa Coleman (Turner), Mr Mervyn Isaac (the Shop), Mrs Angela Francis (postmistress) or the Administrator.
The Panel decided that all the original artists' designs for stamp issues should be kept on the island and stored in the new archives building. They could then be displayed at the Museum on a rotating basis.
The Panel asked the Administrator to investigate the possibility of an air-parcel service to and from the UK. Members also expressed concern at the potential effects on the postal service should the RMS service from the UK be reduced.
R C Huxley
Administrator 9 September 1998
Last updated: 01/10/98
All articles © copyright 1998 The Islander Newspaper.
All rights reserved.