The Ascension Island Newspaper
Internet Edition
Index Page About The Islander Ascension Island Links Ascension Island Visitors Book

The Islander - Thursday 18^th February 1999

SCOUTS/CUBS WEEK-END CAMP
By Scouts Julian Anthony and Daryl Sim

On Saturday 13th February the Scouts and the Cubs went to the Turners Beach Hut, at North East Bay, for a 24 hour camp.	Some of the Scouts enjoying the beach
The Cubs & Scouts show off their litter collection at Comfortless Cove	After we arrived and had set up we went to Comfortless Cove to pick up litter and have a swim. We had about 20 bags of litter, with things like glass, nails, cans, papers etc. We also had to stack some pallets that were lying on the beach.
Then on to the pool to wash off and to watch Georgetown beat Two Boats. When the game was over we went back to cook dinner and get ready for the wide game and turtle watching.	Adam Ryan, Shaun George, Steve Francis and Shaun Stevens enjoying their food!
The Scouts and Cubs measuring the Turtles at North East Bay	A few hours later we went down to the beach to do some turtle watching, we found out that two of the turtles we measured were roughly at a length of 1.13cm, we also found a turtle at the length of 1.26cm (the biggest turtle Brendan had ever seen). Most of the turles had five plates going across the middle of the shell, and four on each side. All of the turles had over 150-200 eggs.
Notice to all of the Island - The Beaches are a lovely part of the Island, we the Scouts and Cubs would like you to think twice before littering. If you are caught littering you will have to answer to us or the Police. Obviously we the Scouts feel very strongly about clearing up your litter. We collected 20 bags of litter from Comfortless Cove - think what rubbish there must be at other beauty spots on the Island. Take your litter home and keep Ascension clean.	Karl Yon and Ashley Clingham Clearing Litter
1st Ascension Scouts at the Fumaroles	The Fumeroles - On Sunday morning the Scouts went down to the fumaroles next to the Catholic Grotto and the Cubs led by PL Jason Thomas to a not so dangerous fumarole. All the Scouts were equipped with hard hats. To get into the fumaroles the Scouts had to climb down over two ledges before getting to the bottom. On the bottom we had to slide under a rock which was about one foot from the ground, we did a silly thing and let Brendan go in last! When we got to the end of the cave Johnny told us a ghost story which scared the living daylights out of Geordi(Gordon).
Thank you to Johnny, Crocky, Brendan, Nathan and Jim for all your help and assistance, from the Cubs and Scouts.	It's dark down here!

Article by Scouts Julian Anthony and Daryl Sim (For part of their Chief Scouts Badge!)

Please note that the Turtle activities were carefully supervised by Turtle expert Dr. Brendan Godley of the Darwin Initiative Turtle Project

Father Keith Writes

PARISH CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN.  ASCENSION ISLAND (Diocese of St. Helena) The Clergy: Parish Priest: Fr Keith James Parish Priest: Fr. Keith James - 6431 Ag Church Warden: Cheryl Anthony - 6147 Ag Church Warden: Mark Giles - 6455

Dear Friends,

ASCENSION DAY FAIR - THURSDAY, MAY 13TH 1999

Last year was the 30th Anniversary of the Ascension Day Fair; all that time it has played a big part in financing the clergy of St. Mary’s Church.

The Church Council had to think long and hard before appointing me as your Vicar. For two years they had been fortunate enough to have retired clergy in residence, usually unaccompanied. Financially this meant low out-goings and not too much worry about church income.

Fortunately the Royal Air Force looks after the building, a great weight off our minds.

As we arrived the United Society for the Promotion of the Gospel, who had in effect ‘sponsored’ your clergy for many years and been responsible for such costs as pensions and storage of furniture etc. pulled out.

This means that St. Mary’s now has to find my stipend, a living allowance for Ginny, pay my pension contributions to the Church of England (over £3000 a year!), as well as provide the car, pay the day-to-day running expenses of the services, and also a lump sum to the Diocese of about £500 to central funds.

So it is all the more important that we have a good Ascension Day Fair this year from a financial point of view; however this is not the only consideration - it is equally important that we seize the opportunity to all work together to have a great day of fun and entertainment for everybody as well.

The first meeting to begin planning takes place at the Junior Church next to the Vicarage on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH 1999 AT 8.00 pm.

If you want to contribute in any way please come, all are invited.

God Bless and Keep You,

Fr Keith & Ginny

From the Administrator's desk

A small committee will meet on 19^th February to select Ascension’s representatives for the Small Island Games to be held at Gotland from 26 June – 3 July. We have six applicants but only the money to underwrite two (possibly three) competitors. Watch this space…!

On the subject of money, Revd Keith is now assembling the committee for the Ascension Day Fair. As most of you know the ADF, which is being held this year on Saturday May 15^th, is the major source of funds to pay for our resident Anglican priest. And we need in excess of £10,000 each year for this. In addition some of the ADF proceeds go to other island charities. So on behalf of the committee can I appeal to any of you who are thinking about organising money-raising events, to consider donating part of the proceeds towards ADF funds.

This year Commonwealth Day will be celebrated on Monday 8^th March. The theme of HM The Queen’s message will be "Music across the Commonwealth" (the text of the address will be published in The Islander). In London the event will be marked by the traditional multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey in the presence of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. It will feature music from all regions of the Commonwealth and will be broadcast live over the BBC World Service.

The Commonwealth is a group of 54 nations – scattered all over the world - that have achieved their independence from Britain. It is a very powerful lobby. Saint Helena’s views are aired via the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (SHG Councillors attend CPA events each year). So the Commonwealth is important to all of us and, may I suggest, especially important at this time to our St Helena friends who are waiting so patiently for news of the British Government White Paper on Overseas Territories.

A party of five Members of Parliament will transit Ascension on 26^th February and 3^rd March. I shall and arrange for a few islanders to meet them to discus citizenship but if anybody else would like an interview, please let me know (Tel: 6311). They are: Ben Chapman (Lab. Wirral South), The Hon Lindsay Hoyle (Lab. Chorley), David Jamieson (Lab. Plymouth Devonport), Nigel Evans (Con. Ribble Valley) and Paul Keetch (Lib. Dem. Hereford).

A word of thanks to our Post Office staff and to the RMS crew who between them have arranged that mail for Ascension is now the first item to be discharged from the ship. This should ensure a much quicker distribution of mail both from the UK and from St Helena.

Finally, a sad goodbye to two long term, much respected and well loved residents, Gerry and Dee Green. All their friends will miss them. We wish them many happy years of retirement in the UK with their children, grandchildren and great-grand children.

Roger Huxley Administrator 15 February 1999

NEWS FROM ASCENSION AUXILIARY AIRFIELD By Maj Jeff Lowdermilk

After a busy couple of weeks, things are beginning to return to normal on the US Base (if there is such a thing). The two P-3 and two EC-18 aircraft have departed, and approximately 152 personnel have left over the last two weeks. All these aircraft and personnel were on the base to support several almost simultaneous missions. I would like to extend my most sincere appreciation to the Royal Air Force and their contractors, the Maersk Ascension, and the Georgetown Police. These missions were all successes as the result of reliable equipment and the hard work of number of personnel on and off the base.

On February 4th, we held an Environmental Protection Committee teleconference with personnel from Patrick Air Force Base. We assess annually our environmental compliance with the Overseas Final Governing Standards for Ascension Island. This is a continual process where after we assess our compliance, we then remedy any findings.

We just got our fiscal year 2000 (October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2000) facilities construction priority list approved by the 45th Logistics Group. Ascension Auxiliary Airfield’s list is as follows:

1) Replace salt water pumphouse 2) Construct walk-in cooler 3) Repair electrical system 4) Termite eradication - Receiver Building 5) Upgrade warehouse 6 - Transmitter Building

6) Construct fire support facility - 12.15 Radar 7) Upgrade runway lights and signs 8) Demolish old facilities 9) Replace fire supression system

Currently, we are not sure how many of these projects will be funded. Any unfunded fiscal year 2000 project will automatically become a fiscal year 2001 priority.

As stated in several previous articles, we are nearing the completion of our Satellite Communications (SATCOM) upgrade. We have, however, run into a slight problem which we are currently working. During the modification, the antenna patterns of the signal were not ideal. Thus, the antenna feedhorn was replaced. While that corrected part of the problem, there was still some distortion. It is now theorized the antenna reflector may be suspect. While we feel confident the system will be certified by Defense Information Systems Agency, this is a condition that will be worked in the future. Having said this, there should be no change in service for users.

MajorJeff Lowdermilk

Letters

SCHOOL NEWS
From the Headteacher - Mrs Betty Joshua

Hello again Readers

This week we bring you news of activities that have taken place over the last two weeks. We have, also, news of visitors to the school.

TURTLE TALK and DISPLAYS

Well, Brendan and Annette have been back to us and have delivered turtle talks, accompanied by slides, of our annual green turtle visitors. They have dealt with primary and secondary pupils in separate sessions and were given lots of questions by the children to answer. Teachers are seeking more information/data from our turtle experts to use in their classroom activities and there will be other follow-up ideas happening as time goes on. On display in our hall are the results of imagination and artistic flair in the form of 'TURTLE TOONS'. These have been done by our senior groups, Years 8 and 9, under the guidance of part-time teacher Lyn Hone. Each piece of work is different with humorous ideas depicting our green friends.

Our class hall displays always draw attention and provide a link with what is taking place in classrooms. They aim to make an impression on those who come into our school and on those who spend their daily time within the school. They act as a stimulus and hopefully, too, evoke a positive sensation in the viewer. Teachers and pupils work towards half-termly displays and these do much to enhance the hall environment. Besides the Turtle toons other displays currently featured are middle school pupils' Greek gods and some colourful flower arrangements and pictures. These stem from M1 and M2 current class topics. Lower School pupils have had fun drawing and cutting out their profiles in silhouette and this display has created a guess-who-it-is game. Our delightful little nursery group has been having fun doing all kinds of things with colour and their picture display shows some of their attractive art work. Magic egg tangrams have been the interest area for our youngest senior group, Year 7, and their diagrams are neatly displayed, too. So, there is quite a variety of ideas on display which show pupil and teacher input.

TRISTAN da CUNHA PROJECT

It is always a pleasure to learn about our neighbouring South Atlantic islands and what makes it more exciting is when we have an excellent 'living' source of information right on our doorstep! Our good fortune in this respect is our very well-loved and well-known friend, Miss Dorothy Evans who is on her way back to the UK where she lives in Oxford, having travelled to the island of Tristan da Cunha via South Africa, onward to St. Helena on the 'RMS' and then after a week there, has come to Ascension to await her return flight on the Tri-star back to cold England! Well Dorothy is not one to sit about and wait to move on. She has been out and about meeting 'old' friends and making new ones and of course, with a background of teaching and education in the many forms that it takes on, has been in (and out of) school for very good reasons. During Dorothy's time at Tristan, she (of course) visited St. Mary's School there and was given their latest project on the Rockhopper Penguin. There are some delightful pieces of work done by the children and this has provided yet another display at our school for the staff and pupils to view. On Tuesday morning this project was the reference point for a Tristan/Penquin talk with the Primary School. The children were very interested in learning about what life is like on our sister island and Dorothy, with her travel tales would have captured and held their interest. Senior pupils did not miss out on this fascinating travel story as Dorothy kindly agreed to do a repeat performance the following morning. It is at this point that I would like to thank Dorothy, on everybody's behalf, for such an interesting time and to say what a pleasure it has been to have her back at Two Boats School. We will say 'au revoir' because, although she has been on Ascension fourteen times already, we are not seeing the last of her I'm sure. We look forward to the next time, Dorothy.

Related to the recent turtle talk, etc. Dorothy returned to us armed with a Turtle Project done by some senior pupils in 1997. This project has featured in The Forum News, which is the magazine of the British Overseas Territories Conservation Forum. St. Mary's School's penguin project will be published in this magazine at a later date. It is Dorothy's intention to show the turtle project to Brendan and Annette and maybe we will feature parts of it on our School Page later on.

Armed Forces Recruitment Presentation

On Monday afternoon a two-man team from the Armed Forces came into school to give a presentation to our senior pupils. They were delighted with the interest shown by the boys and girls and have taken on board some individual requests for further information, which they will send back to them. Thank you for your input gentlemen, and we look forward to the interest developing for at least some of our young people in the not-too-distant future.

Year 7 go pig studying!

With the cool breeze blowing down the gentle slopes towards TBS and a slight threat of rain, Year 7 took to the hills intent on learning about pig farming and how well our mountain pigs are faring. The morning session, kindly led by David and Melanie Henry, will help our young senior pupils to better understand the life of a pig and get to know more about what takes place at Green Mountain Farm. The connection with their classwork comes from their Literature text 'The Sheep-Pig' shared by them and teacher of English, Marie-Anne Leo.

Next week will be the turn of Middle One who, no doubt, will bring you some interesting things to read. Until then, bye for this time.

Betty Joshua

Headteacher.

Recent Activities of Darwin Initiative Turtle Project

The turtle nesting season is really getting into full swing with more than 100 nests being laid nightly around the island. Other than the basic monitoring operation, a number of specific research projects are making progress and we will give updates when these initiatives are more advanced. In addition to our routine research work, we have had occasion to be involved in several additional turtle-related activities in recent weeks:

Two Boats School Talking Turtles

On the 3^rd February 1999 we had the pleasure of spending an afternoon talking with all the students of the Two Boats School. This took the form of an illustrated talk and a question and answer session for both the Junior and Senior School. We were very impressed with the enthusiasm and interest of all pupils aged 4-16 and we will include a digest of some of their questions (and our answers) in coming weeks.

Turtle Tours

Many of you will be aware that recent weeks have seen the start of a tourist trade on Ascension. Not surprisingly, the unique island wildlife including turtles and seabirds has played an important role in attracting these visitors from many nations (Falklands, Germany, Kenya, Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, UK and USA). As our small contribution to this initiative we have conducted four turtle evenings involving an illustrated talk at the Georgetown Guesthouse followed by a guided walking tour to show turtle nesting and egg-laying. There appears sufficient interest to repeat these evenings at two-weekly intervals, with the next one being Tuesday 2nd March, 8.30 pm. If you are interested in coming along please contact Julie Anthony at the Guesthouse on 6246 to reserve a place. Although there will be no charge, numbers will be limited. The bar will open at 7.30 pm.

Scouting for Turtles

As part of the joint 1st Ascension Scouts and Cubs camp at NE Bay on Saturday 13^th February, all took part in the monitoring of turtle nesting. Great patience was shown as the chaps waited for turtles to lay before measuring the turtles and checking for tags.

Volunteering

There will be a meeting of all those interested in actually becoming involved in doing something as part of the project. This will be at 8pm on Monday 22^nd February, American Legion Room at the Volcano Club. All welcome!

Ascension Turtles Take to the Web

As a way of widely disseminating the results of this Darwin Initiative funded project we are pleased to announce the launch of an internet web site dedicated to marine turtles. This is based at the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Wales, Swansea and will grow with the project. Please view it and let us have your thoughts and suggestions as to things that you think might be worthy additions. The address is: <http://www.swansea.ac.uk/biosci/turtl/index.htm>. Thanks to Dr. S. Wainwright for maintaining the site and to Cable and Wireless who have been kind enough to grant the Turtle Project online access so enabling us to modify and view the site ourselves.

Dr. Jeanne Mortimer

Many Islander readers will remember when Jeanne Mortimer undertook a similar turtle project more than 20 years ago. We have been in contact with her recently and she has asked us to pass on her regards to all her friends here. We have also invited her to write a small piece for the Islander which she has agreed to do in the near future.

More Information

We are happy to answer any questions readers may have about turtles. Feel free to contact us:

"The Turtle People"
Brendan and Annette
Bungalow 22, Two Boats
Tel: 4547

E-mail: mtn@atlantis.co.ac

Turtle Project Web Site: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/biosci/turtl/index.htm

From the St. Helena & South Atlantic News Review - December 1998
By Allan Banniser

Come Easter St. Helenians world-wide and especially back on the Island will be celebrating the restoration of UK Citizenship Rights, an inheritance that should never have been taken away in the first place.

Home Secretary Jack Straw is expected to announce in the House of Commons by March at the latest that all paper work has been completed and this writer has been informed that there will be NO opposition to the Bill from any party.

Although such a parliamentary move had been expected, the early announcement in September last that David Hollamby, currently Head of the Overseas Territories Department (formerly the ODA) has been appointed the next Governor of St. Helena as from May in succession to David Smallman LVO, who is retiring from the Diplomatic Service - was conclusive evidence of the Home Secretary’s intentions.

Likewise, the continuation for at least another two years of Cathy Hopkins as St. Helena Government Representative UK provided the final punch in an on-going combat that in reality had only one realistic ending. But if St. Helenians believe that everything in the garden will suddenly blossom and that there will be no more political or economic problems, then think again. There will be a great many changes to ingrained St. Helena bureaucratic laws over the next 3-4 years. Which is why David Hollamby has been appointed Governor to oversee this transitional period. And those misguided political hotheads on St. Helena who believe that storming The Castle and attacking the Governor is democracy would do well to go to their beds and stay there.

To start with, the outdated local Laws that prohibit anyone other than St. Helenians owning property or establishing a business enterprise will be rescinded soonest possible. For years St. Helenians have complained about the “meagre” cash support they receive from Westminster. I agree, it is paltry. But as Clare Short has said time and time again, isn’t about time that those residing on St. Helena tried to help themselves?

All too frequently this writer receives letters from relatives and contacts on St. Helena complaining that there is a shortage of potatoes, onions, meat and tinned foods because shipments have been delayed in Cape Town. So what? Not so long ago nine out every ten households on the island had small market gardens, reared chickens and/or goats. My own wife remembers walking every Saturday from Levelwood to Jamestown with parents, brothers and sisters, to sell or barter in Jamestown.

Now young St. Helenians can earn massive salaries on Ascension or in the Falklands. They spend this money on cars, motorcycles, TV’s and of course they send money home - yet when these strong young people return to St. Helena the very thought of cultivating a market garden is the last thing on their minds. We’ve earned our money so let’s spend it is the general attitude. I know, I’ve seen it - in the bar at the Consulate Hotel. Yet these and their parents are the very people who constantly complain about cash injects from Westminster. Time some young Saints grew up and returned to reality.

As and when UK Citizenship Rights are returned to St. Helena and as and when David Hollamby assumes the Governship there will be many changes. He is a highly respected astute and professional diplomatic officer. His reputation in Westminster is a winner. Just so we know who we are dealing with, I myself made discreet enquiries (no offence meant) and I discovered that in both New York and Rome he was accepted as both a gentleman but also as a Government man. In simple language, David Hollamby is fair, honest and a professional. You accept him as a gentleman and a professional, then he will listen and help. You try to fool him or even threaten him, God help you. Which is the type of Governor St. Helena needs for the next four years. If any idiot decides that they can “persuade” the Governor to bend the rules to suit individual wishes, they will not be given food vouchers, rather they will end up in Jamestown Prison. The Governor of St. Helena is not only representing Westminster, he also represents HM The Queen; and I for one will never forgive Governor David Smallman for backing down when confronted by a mob of hotheads with semi-political aspirations.

One last word. When UK Citizenship Rights are restored, St. Helena must place its trust in David Hollamby. By then he has a strong right arm in Cathy Hopkins as UK Representative. Between them they can carry St. Helena into the next century - but you, St. Helenians, home or overseas, have not only to believe in them, you also have to trust them.

If you can’t accept this then don’t complain. There’s an old adage that this particular writer has always accepted and lived by; even a good amateur stands no chance against a seasoned professional.

Get my meaning?

Allan Bannister

Hash Trash
Hash No.734

A hot, bright, windy and forgetful Hash. The forgetfulness starts with Chief Longpole, who forgot his trademark pole. We could not continue until he was fully equipped, so had to wait while he went off to Pole-land to find a replacement. This gave us time to meet a couple of distinguished visitors from our nearest Hashing Neighbours. Hi to Necrophilliac and Lady Cadaver who honoured us with their presence.

Once everyone was fully equipped, we set off in the fruitless search for Hash.

The strong wind, which was a feature of the whole run had done its stuff, and stolen all the blobs of paper. We were shown the route by a very small all terrain local guide (Rabbit). The route headed down into a forgotten valley, and then UP UP and more Up to what we thought must be the windiest part of the island. The views on the top of Middletons were excellent, we could see for miles through the cloudless sky… Unfortunately it was not clear enough for Warp Speed to see his own circle check. This begs the question, did he lay the trail himself, or slip one of his employees a slab of Ohllies to scatter the paper? The wind also confiscated Chief Longpole’s hat, last seen heading for traveller’s pool at high velocity. Coffee mate headed off down the hill in a vain attempt to catch it. Good effort mate, hope you enjoyed the climb back up the hill.

Naturally the on on continued UP still further, before joining the Middletons path for a good blast back to the cars. Here we saw Dozy Ha’p’orth travelling with a rare turn of speed, unencumbered by dad Sniffy for a change.

The end of the Hash was unusually brief, we tested the load bed of Fugative’s new truck for comfort and suitability as a picnic area.. All we needed was a few sandwiches, but Warp speed had forgotten how to drive a bread knife. This being a Hash, all will be forgiven…… Eventually. Thanks for a good trail.

Hooray’s Law - Nobody notices when things go right.

Bring Back’s Law on jam – The wider any culture is spread, the thinner it gets.

Deep Purple’s Law – Just when you get to be really good at something, you don’t need to do it any more.

This week’s HASHers: Dozy Ha’p’orth, Roly Poly, Gilligan, A Drain, Frank-n-furter, Prambo, Xena, The Fugative, Ceddy, Sylvia, Coffee mate, Warp speed, Patsy, Ivor the engine, Crystal tips, Beanie baby, Lollipop, Chief longpole, Penguin, Necrophilliac, Lady cadaver, & smallthing

Receding Hareline:
Sat 20^th smallthing & A-Drain. From A2 Two Boats. (Not child friendly)
Sat 27^th Thunder Thighs from A1 Two Boats

smallthing (of little consequence)

ASCENSION PREMIERSHIP 1998/99
By Crocky

Results – Tables – Fixtures - News
Results:

From the on-line editor,

Unfortunately I couldn't get hold of the soft copy of the Football news (and I haven't time to type it up!).

However here are the football results for last week:

Sat 13 Feb - Georgetown 3 - Two Boats 0

Sun 14 Feb - US Base 7 - Travellers 1

All articles © copyright 1999 The Islander Newspaper. All rights reserved.

Please visit our sponsor: