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The Ascension Island Newspaper |
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The Ascension Island Newspaper |
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| The marriage took place at the
Residency on Saturday 5th December of Mr. Mario George
and Miss. Jackie Williams. Jackie, who looked stunning in
a cream silk suit, the jacket delicately embroidered at
the front, carried a beautiful bouquet of silk yellow and
white roses with lilies. Jackie's sister Tracey was maid of honour and looked lovely in a cream crepe dress with cowl neckline with a lace insert. Jackie's son Michael was pageboy and baby Marico was as good as gold all day. His Honour The Administrator, Roger Huxley officiated. Mr.Christopher George was Best Man The reception afterwards was held at the Exiles Club. It is lovely to see the Exiles Club used for occasions such as this. The room was decorated with streamers and balloons by Nigel Yon, Robert Williams, Denise Peters and Tracey Williams. Mr. John Joshua read the Telegrams from friends and relations from far and near. Mrs. Ivy George having known Mario all his life made a very moving speech at the reception. The caterers Mervyn Reynolds, Debbie Lawrence and Winnie Scipio provided a delicious meal. Eileen Leo made the cake. Myrtle Magalla in St. Helena made Jackie's wedding suit. |
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Those members of the family unable to
attend the wedding were Mario's mum Olga Watson who was
back in the UK, Jackie's sister Samantha and niece
Shaylee in St. Helena and brother Johnny who is in the
Falklands. Jackie and Mario have asked that a special thank you be given to Sqn Ldr Adrian Hayward and the RAF for coming to the rescue when Mario found his new wedding ring that Adrian had collected on his recent visit to the UK didn't fit. Adrian arranged with Flt Lt Glyn Rees of 216 Sqn to return the ring to the store. As Mario's ring was engraved with a special inscription the store provided a stand-in ring until the original ring is made larger. The ring was put on the Tri-Star on the Thursday evening and arrived in time for the wedding. |
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Dear Friends,
First of all may we wish those who are leaving the Island to
spend Christmas 'at home' a safe journey and Very Happy and Holy
Christmas.
Secondly our thanks to all who contributed through the collection
at the Christingle Service and gift envelopes to raise £200 for
the Children's Society.
Most of us will have bought our Christmas presents by now.
Choosing presents can be quite difficult. It's nice to be sure
that what you are buying is something that will be wanted,
something suitable for the person you want to give to.
Usually we start out in November with a list of possible items
placed against each name.
This year it was much easier. 'Ascension Island ' T-shirts for
everybody, easy to pack and send and a small reminder to our
friends and family members of where we are.
Over the Christmas period our services in church are a special
offering, a present if you like, to God. They are our way of
thanking him for his gift to us of Jesus.
As presents they need careful choosing. Which readings shall we
use? Which carols shall we sing? What form of service shall we
use - will we have a sermon or not, shall we have a 'Family
Service without Communion or with it'?
Even the words we use to describe the services can be confusing -
Midnight Mass, Holy Eucharist, Communion.
And as for the passages of scripture, there are so many
translations of the Bible in use today we are literally spoilt
for choice.
In the end it is my job to put it all together, my task to wrap
up a parcel of words and music that is acceptable to God - and to
you. It is not easy, so please pray for me as I put together our
Christmas Services. I can only prepare them - together we can
offer them to God.
God Bless You All.
Fr Keith & Ginny
BLUE REMEMBERED SEA
Last Saturday afternoon I was sat in the garden of number 9 George Town reading a book sat in shorts and 'T' shirt listening to the sound of Slades 'Merry Xmas' wafting across from George Town competing with the wind rustling in the fig trees. This is one memory I'll certainly be keeping from this, my second visit to Ascension but I also have many others from my time on the Island, Green Mountain, my diving trips with the RAF 'Expeds', friends old and new but most of all of the sea. The wine-dark, opaque, foaming blue remembered sea of Ascension with its turtles, dolphins and sharks.
Living and working in London also makes this visitor appreciate the sense of safety and welcoming hospitality of everyone on the island, the peace and quite (notwithstanding the person who lives near the Saint's club who plays music at 1000 decibels early on Sunday morning - in any other place they would be arrested!) and the quaint little custom of waving to all and sundry - especially when driving. It occurred to me some time ago that this local custom would be made even more enjoyable by the introduction of a little more sophistication - in the form of the game 'Papers Scissors Stone'. I can see it now, people driving their cars in some sort of medieval style joust. Just picture it, Niddy tying her favourite hanky to the Administrators wrist as he drives down from the Residency each morning preparing to do Paper Scissors Stone with a similarly adorned Station Commander (this time with Kate's bit of antique lace). On the frontier land of Donkey Plain the two cars speed towards each other (not exceeding 40mph of course) flags rippling on their car bonnets Adrian sticks his arm out to give Roger the traditional two fingered wave (scissors) but no! Roger beats him with his 'Stone'. Maybe the 'Islander' could keep the scores each week.
My wife Edith and I (she is the good looking one) also had the pleasure of attending the wedding of Jackie and Mario last Saturday and what a charming event it was - made even more fun by the site of bridesmaid of honour Tracy looking every inch like a glamorous tightrope walker in her new high heeled shoes. It was a truly wonderful occasion with perfect weather in an exotic setting - even the Administrators floppy Panama hat could not detract from the atmosphere. I don't think any couple could have asked for a nicer way to start their married life together. The evening events at the Exiles were also greatly enjoyable even though the Hayward party had to make an early exit from the celebrations in order to entertain Douglas Henderson and his assistants as they called in on route to the UK following their visit to the Falklands. What an interesting bunch they were although I suspect the Minister was less than impressed with my observation that Kate Hayward only wanted his name in the visitor's book 'in case he ever got famous'.
I must also remark on the real characters that I've been lucky enough to meet on this trip. For starters, Ascension Island's very own version of Postman Pat, Andy who runs the BFPO over here. He must be the happiest person on the Island - he smiles so much I first thought his dimples had been stapled in. Then there's the marvellous mob on the Maersk Ascension. Capt. Keith and the crew made us all very welcome on Saturday as we went on our guided tour of the cavernous innards of the ships engine room. There is the real cordite smell of endeavour aboard the ship. Real frontier stuff based on '60s technology. I even got to see the Pump Room courtesy of Dave number 1 (there is no shortage of Dave's aboard I discovered). "This is where most people die on ship" he said grimly. "Do you need to use oxygen?" I asked. "No" replied Dave "We just turn on the extractor fans and take down a radio". "Maybe you should take down a Canary bird" I mused.
Which brings me neatly to your very own radio DJ Steve the Fireman who I met at last Friday's Christmas draw at Travellers. How appropriate I thought, to have developed that transatlantic accent out here in the middle of the Atlantic, and what a nice man. He reminded me a little of that singer from the band 'Right said Fred' - you know the one who Mark Lamar once said was 'Very interested in Weight Lifting - he is an expert at the Clean and Jerk - but for some reason shows no interest in the Snatch'. Anyway, I'd like to thank Steve for introducing me to the record which is apparently the hottest thing in the clubs back at UK at the moment, the one that has this woman's voice repeating over and over again 'I've seen you around, I find you very attractive'. It's so catchy I'm sure Steve sings it to himself every night when he is looking in the mirror and cleaning his teeth.
It has been a real joy to stay here for two weeks and Edith and I (we are the mad couple who have been playing very bad tennis in George Town in the morning for the past couple of weeks) have to say a big thank you to Kate and Adrian Hayward for making our stay such fun. We have to say this 'cos their family.
Finally, I would like to mention Johnny and his wonderful dog Paddy. The mere mention of the word 'swim' had him diving off the jetty and chasing the crabs on the harbour wall. This dog could get his own T.V. show if he lived anywhere else and why not? I remember reading a review of one of the Tory Party conferences years ago when Mrs. Thatcher was said to be 'pawing the table as she spoke as if like Lassie she was trying to lead us to the young girl trapped down the old mine shaft'. I'd rather follow Paddy any day. But then, that's another story…
Keith Richbell
Until my present contract on board the Gulf Fleet 45, in the South China Sea, I thought that Vietnam's problems were over but recent experiences have shown me these problems are very much alive (we just don't read about them as much in the newspapers). They still exist to such as extent that people are risking their lives in order to escape them.
In a period of three weeks the Gulf Fleet 45 has rescued three boats of Vietnamese people who have been lucky enough to spot the rig tender. J. W. Nickle on the horizon (or perhaps they could see the American flag on the Gulf Fleet 45). From these three boats 292 bedraggled people emerged, many of them having to be carried on board. From one boat (no more than thirty-five feet long) 126 people appeared as if from nowhere.
After a quick checkover by the Nickle's medic, a wash, and a few boxes of cornflakes, these people begin to take on human form again. After twenty-four hours they are humans once more, and. after getting over the excitement of being rescued, the thought of what is going to happen to them next occurs. Nearly everyone had an address in the States with them written on some small scrap of paper, (some relative or friend who had travelled the same path years before) but it is not for us to tell them it will be a long time, if ever, before they reach that address. We can only tell them we will be taking them to some Indonesian Island with a refugee camp. They are not too unhappy at this; after all, it's a start!
After talking to those few who could speak English we learn of why they left Vietnam and what they have been through since. One father of three left his wife and two sons behind. At $500 each person he had found he hadn't enough saved, but when he finds a job in America he will send money to his wife so they can be re-united (but will she survive the ordeal on the boat?). One brother and sister lost their mother overboard, he was eight, and she was fifteen.
On two occasions we had a 'disco' on our after deck, but we won't tell our safety officer this as we are dancing on thirty inch casing - but there was nowhere else. After seeing this I suspect that many of our older 'guests' were wondering what they had let themselves in for.
I know that the crew and Captain, Bruce Gough, were as happy as I was about having these people on board, and we were all sad when they left.
One scene in particular I remember (unfortunately I had no film left). In once spare cabin we put mattresses on the deck for the young kids to sleep on (you can't get that many in a bunk). Well, kids being kids, they just jumped into that cabin and had a good play. If you could have seen that, then you would know what happiness is!
The following matters were discussed:
Island Customer Board meeting of 2 December: full briefing was given. Some of the more pertinent subjects covered:
Any other business:
R C Huxley
Administrator
11 December 1998
ASCENSION MARINE TURTLE
PROJECT UNDERWAYThe last few weeks have seen the resumption of green turtle nesting on the beaches round Ascension for another season. As previously mentioned in the Islander (12th November issue), these turtles will be part of a large-scale monitoring and research operation throughout this season and next. The project is the result of a partnership between the Ascension Island Administrator's Office and the University of Wales, Swansea; funded by the Darwin Initiative for the Survival of the Species, a scheme run by the UK Department of Environment and Regions.
At this stage the nesting is still at a fairly low level with few females yet ready to lay. However, many turtles are now visible from the shore as they mate. Males actively pursue females and the "bulls" can often be seen fighting over mating opportunities. The best spots for observing mating turtles are off the major nesting beaches (SW Bay, Long Beach, and NE Bay). In addition, many turtles are still swimming from their feeding grounds off the coast of South America and will be arriving until well into the New Year.
An "Ascension" Green Turtle
preparing to lay its eggs.
One of the major aims of the project is to work out the size of the nesting population to see how it compares with the last intensive surveys undertaken by Dr. Jeanne Mortimer and her friends and colleagues between 1976 and 1978. The annual nesting turtle numbers at that time were thought to be in the region of 2000-3000 females. It might be hoped that due to the high degree of protection afforded to them here in their nesting grounds that the population will be equal or greater in size to that 20 years ago. However, it may be that rigorous protection in Ascension is not enough to safeguard this unique population.
The way we will manage to obtain current estimates will be counting the number of track/nests on each beach throughout the season. This will involve regular beach surveys where old tracks are raked over and then fresh tracks are counted the next day. This will be undertaken twice weekly on the four most important beaches (SW Bay, Long Beach, NE Bay and Hannay) and less frequently on the remaining beaches. Other research projects will involve night work on the beaches and inwater boat surveys.
Although it is envisaged that some foreign scientists may visit for short periods, it is hoped that the bulk of the work will be undertaken by a team encompassing local people working together with ourselves (Annette Broderick and Brendan Godley). We will be staying on Island throughout both nesting seasons. At this stage, we are keen to identify people who might be interested in being involved at any time between now and July. No scientific knowledge is necessary and full training would be given to all interested parties. We fully understand the many commitments which exist at this time of year and the vast majority of the work will need to be undertaken in 1999. Even if you cannot commit till after the party season, we would appreciate it if you let us know your interest.
We welcome any enquiries or information related to the project and/or marine turtles in general. We would be happy to have the opportunity to meet and chat with anyone who is keen to share information or find out more. Contact details for Annette or Brendan are:
Tel: 4547, E-Mail: <mtn@atlantis.co.ac>,House:Bungalow 22, Two Boats
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The renovation of our first dormitory by Sunshine Incorporated is progressing very well. The rooms have been painted, the ceilings textured, and bathroom vanities installed. We have agreed on a color scheme for the bathroom tile and carpet. This dormitory will probably be ready for a final inspection and acceptance during the end of January or very early February. Aside from a general upgrading of this dormitory, the rooms will now feature individual bathrooms for each occupant which will make the dormitory in compliance with US Air Force dormitory quality of life standards.
We will be visited by an 11-man "Red Horse" civil engineering contingent during the month of January. They will be deployed to Ascension to repair the black and red klinker pits with bulldozers by eliminating the steep overhangs that currently exist. Additionally, and most importantly, this team will use low order explosives in our construction aggregate quarry to create more aggregate. Currently, we have removed all loose aggregate we can utilizing bulldozers. Explosives will be placed in the quarry walls and loosen more aggregate. Our hope is this project will give us a 10 to 15-year supply of construction aggregate. The explosions will be of such a low order, no one outside of Ascension AAF should feel or hear the explosions. Two important facts should be of particular note to the general public. First, these explosives will be stored adjacent to our rocket motor storage facility behind Cotar Hill. Second, the quarry is located between Cotar Hill and the sea. THIS AREA IS OFF LIMITS TO ALL PERSONNEL DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY 1999 WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF MYSELF. I will be coordinating with the Mr Huxley, the Administrator, for creation of a public notice to reiterate these facts.
On December 15-16, we were visited by Brigadier F. Randall General Starbuck (45th Space Wing Commander), Colonel Byron Evans (45th Logistics Group Commander), Lieutenant Colonel Michael Coolidge (Detachment 8, Space and Missile Center Commander), Ms Jackie Clark (Range Technical Service Program Manager), Captain Craig Bomberg (Executive Officer to General Starbuck), and Lieutenant Lateef Hynson (Executive Officer to Colonel Evans). The visit included a station briefing, tour of critical facilities, and exposure to key issues. I would like to commend everyone on the station and the island community for making this visit a success.
In conclusion of this week's article, I will be departing for a short period of leave from December 16-29. As I will be off-island, Technical Sergeant Ed Rocha will be the Acting Commander. Additionally, I will be unable to provide Islander articles for the next two weeks. I wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas and New Year!
Major Jeff Lowdermilk
ASCENSION PREMIERSHIP 1998/99Results:
Thur 10 Dec Two Boats Rowdies 0 Travellers 6 5pm T Reynolds (3), A Piesse (2), D Collis Referee: P Crake Man of the Match: Andy Piesse (Travellers) Sat 12 Dec Rangers 1 Harts 7 5pm Adrian A Henry (3), A Bennett (2), R Joshua, T Fowler Referee: P Crake Man of the Match: Alonzo Henry (Harts) Sun 13 Dec Travellers 7 Bellboys 1 3pm T Reynolds (4), D Bedwell (pen) D Collis,A Piesse, I Wade Referee: D Henry Man of the Match: Timmy Reynolds (Travellers) Sun 13 Dec Georgetown vs Roustabouts Match postponed until further notice
JOYFUL AND TRIUMPHANT - 7 GOAL REBEL REYNOLDS
Two Boats Rowdies suffered yet another defeat, even with yours truly back from injury! Travellers did the honours with goalscoring leaders Rebel Reynolds and compatriot Andy 'Easy' Piesse up front. Travellers scored 2 goals early and from then on it was an uphill battle for Rowdies. Rowdies held on for a while, and cracks were starting to show in the opposition, but were unable to keep up the pressure. Rowdies fought hard and although made many inspiring advances were unable to capitalise. Travellers with reduced pressure were able to increase their lead to 6 - 0. Great football display from TBRs rookie Geordie Peters, who unfortunately was not rewarded with a goal, which he deserved.
On Saturday Alonzo Henry scored a hat trick for Harts in their
7-1 mauling of Rangers. Other goals came from captain Richard
Joshua, Timmy Fowler and a brace from Anthony Bennett. Rangers'
single reply came from Adrian.
Timmy Reynolds was back on the goal trail again on Sunday,
scoring 4 and laying 2 more on for his team-mates. One of his 4
goals was expertly curled in direct from a corner. Bellboys put
in plenty of effort but were unable to retain enough possession
in the final third. Second half substitute Malcolm Greentree
injected some much needed pace into the whites' attack and George
Thomas played well in defence. However, Travellers never really
looked troubled and even Deano managed to get among the goals -
again!
A special mention must go to referee Paul Crake, who continues to step in at short notice when games are re-arranged, allowing the league to keep going. On that note we would again urge team captains to inform Paul as early a possible when changes are being made - remember, referees are giving up their personal time and a little consideration of this would be greatly appreciated.
Rebel Reynolds did not spare TB Rowdies or Bellboys any mercy as he increases his lead over Net Buster Bennett. Easy Piesse also increases his tally and is within 'striking' distance of Bennett. Rebel looks to stay on top for the time being unless Dubbs Thomas can muster a massive goal haul in the next two games to take the honours.
Premiership Hot Shots
20 T Reynolds (Travellers) - 14 A Bennett (Harts) -- 10 A Piesse (Travellers) - 6 N Thomas (G/town), A Thomas (B/boys) - 5 J Benjamin (Bellboys) - 4 D Henry, C Young (T/B Rowdies), S Henry (Harts)
Fixtures: Sun 20 Dec: 3pm - Georgetown v Bellboys
Due to the US freighter expected this week, the above game might be re-arranged. The postponed match between Georgetown and Roustabouts is also likely to take place sometime this week or weekend. For latest fixture news, supporters please check with teams concerned or myself.
Only 1 week of action left 'til the end of the year and end of the first round. Who will be on top of the League table at the end of the first round? If you haven't seen any teams play, what are you waiting for? Get down to the Georgetown stadium now! Come and watch the teams battle it out… Or suffer the agonising wait until we start next year. I would like to wish fans, supporters, players and all those involved with the Premiership a very Merry Christmas and a Kicking New Year.
Administrator's Site:
Exclusive! - A new Ascension Island website will be launched next week - Watch this space for more details!
Last
updated: 18/12/98 |
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