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The Islander - Thursday 20^th May 1999

WEDDING BELLS FOR CLARE AND STUART
By Darrin Henry

For a brief moment early in the afternoon a shower of rain threatened to spoil the day, but it turned out to be just a sprinkle to cool last minute nerves. At 4 o'clock on Saturday 15 May the sun beamed down, as Clare Henry and Stuart Grey were married at St. Mary's Church.

	The bride wore a long sleeved white satin gown embroidered with sequins and beads. The dress was styled with a sweetheart neckline and long flowing train. Clare carried a beautiful bouquet of silk flowers and to finish the effect her hair was decorated with a white flower and beaded head-dress. The bridegroom wore a smart black suit and tie, complimented by a buttonhole that matched the day's colour scheme of burgundy and white.
The bride was attended by two bridesmaids, her sister Lorraine and Usha Peters both wearing matching burgundy gowns, flower girl Kelly Leo dressed in white satin and page boy Ryan Knipe. His father, Peter, accompanied Stuart as his best man and Clare was given away by her father, Brian 'Speedy'. Father Keith James conducted the ceremony, after which the couple posed for photographs with family and friends on the church steps. Then it was off to the garden of no. 9 for more photos before the happy couple were whisked up to the Mountain View Club at Travellers Hill for a wonderful reception.
	Larry Francis read out a huge pile of telegrams from well-wishers abroad before Jamie Thompson and Jayne Senior entertained the guests with speeches and then proposed a toast to the bride and groom. After a delicious meal by Junior, the special day was rounded off with dancing into the early hours to the music of DJ Freddie Maggott. We all wish Clare & Stuart every happiness for the future.

Father Keith Writes:

PARISH CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN.  ASCENSION ISLAND (Diocese of St. Helena) Parish Priest: Fr. Keith James - 6431 Church Warden: Marvyn Isaacs Church Warden: Cheryl Anthony

Dear Friends,

It seems very appropriate that in the week when the island holds its major fun and fundraising event our Ascension Island Cycle of Prayer should concentrate on places of leisure.

In a rather hastily drawn up list prayers are offered this week for the staff of Saints, Mountain View, Volcano, Two Boats and Exiles clubs, and to these we should add the Golf Club, the swimming pools and gymnasiums and so on. We ask for God’s blessing on their work, that they may find it fulfilling and rewarding, and we thank God for his gift of leisure-time for all of us.

Most of our institutions rely heavily on voluntary workers to keep things running, and as the island ‘shrinks’ in terms of population there are fewer and fewer people willing to take on what are often pretty thankless tasks; those of us who enjoy the facilities offered need to remember their efforts and be thankful. And if we don’t like what’s offered or think something could be done better maybe we could lend a hand instead of just moaning - as most of us tend to do !!

Hopefully, all who have so kindly offered their services for the ADF will enjoy it and find it worthwhile, and we shall all have a good day.

Last Sunday St. Mary’s enjoyed John Haslam’s organ playing for the last time as he leaves for the UK this week. Our thanks for his great help. This coming Sunday is a ‘red letter day’ for the church; first we celebrate Whitsunday, when the disciples received the Holy Spirit, and also the RAF Brass Quintet is playing for the morning service. Those of you who came the last time we had RAF musicians here will know what a treat their playing was, so if you’ve recovered from the ADF do join us.

God Bless You and Keep You,
Fr Keith & Ginny.

ASI Guide to Dining Out (Part II)

Once again our dedicated reporting staff have been out and about risking serious gastric diseases just so that you the reader has an informed idea of where to eat out. Last week we girded our intestines and journeyed to Two Boats Club to sample one of Mr Arms’ famous Mountain Grills. The usual welcoming smile from Patsy Peters set a good and convivial tone for the evening as did the fire-buckets of alcohol consumed before dining.

The world famous "Two Boats Club"

Feeling slightly merry as we were led to the dining area we were all in a mood to be pleased and we were certainly not disappointed. Once again Wendy and Donald had excelled themselves, the crayfish was beautiful and as for the lamb, well that just melted in your mouth. First class food accompanied by first class service, courtesy of Pam and Doris added up to a great evening out that was definitely value for money.

LETTERS

The Met Office Weather Report

Statistics for the week ending Sunday 2^nd May 1999.

ASCENSION SEA SWELL FORECAST ( based on data available on Monday afternoon) : South to southeasterly 1.5 to 2m.
Sea temperature around Ascension Island: 28 C.

ASCENSION ISLAND: Dry for most of the week with sunshine at times and a fairly constant temperature each day. There were a few showers around the middle of the week but the great majority of the week's rain fall fell on Sunday night (16.4mm at Traveller's). The Residency rainfall is read on Saturday so that the Sunday total will go to next week.

ST HELENA: Gary Thomas writes:- During the early hours of Monday morning several light/moderate showers fell, followed by a very heavy one from around 4am lasting one hour and measured 10mm. However, since then we have had very sunny weather and the odd light shower. Sea conditions have been very good.

For the week ending 9 May Gary wrote:- Other than a shower on Saturday just before midday and one on Sunday night, we still await some decent rain as the dry conditions continue. Broken cloud for most of the week produced 54 hours of sunshine. Temperatures slowly begin to drop as we begin to approach mid-winter. Sea conditions have been very good.

U.K: With low pressure never very far away from the country, it was an unsettled week's weather with showers or longer periods of rain and temperature only just up to the normal. Monday was the wettest day in many parts of the country as a trough of low pressure crossed over from the west.

FALKLAND ISLANDS: West to southwesterly winds brought rather cloudy weather during the week, although it remained reasonably warm. There was rain from time to time, the wettest day being Tuesday. Sunday turned colder with the temperature not rising above 4C at MPA.

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Last week we started to explore the Mars Bay area by going to the Wideawake Fair, this week we will cross that flow of tumbled lava and go on to the delightful Shelley Beach. If that lava looks unpassable don't be concerned because there is a reasonable path across it.

Walking towards the sea at Mars Bay along the side of the lava as described last week you will come across a prominent white cylindrical marker post set into the lava and alongside is a path leading up onto the lava. The path is mostly very well marked right through to Shelley Beach and you will soon see that further marker posts lie ahead, so you will always know in which general direction you are heading even if you lose the path. I won't say that you can't get lost, that would be tempting providence, but it really is quite an easy path. It can be done in trainers but walking boots are always to be recommended on the island because of the support they give to the ankles, and the usual warning to take plenty of water with you applies most especially heree because the dusty lava is light-coloured and reflects the sunlight, so that you will get very hot. However the walk is not aruoud, it is fairly flat and takes about 20 minutes.

Coming at last onto Shelley Beach you will see scattered debris which has been washed ashore, pieces of driftwood, perhaps somebody's old sandals, but most of all loads and loads of shells, many broken up to make the beach sand but there is always the chance of finding a good-sized conch or helmet shell in reasonable condition. There are alos some shallow rock pools which are always worth a look, you will always find a few young "five finger fish" or "tuna bait" but there is the chance of seeing a small octopus or eel or even other exotic species.

The best rock pools though, are to be found further along the beach. Continue walking in an easterly direction until you see a low black hillock running inland. Just before this is a small gorge, turn into this and you will soon come across the first of a series of rock pools running inland. They are fed by underground channels from the sea so their depth and extent will depend on the state of the tide but they are well worth exploring because of two very interesting species. The first of these takes the form of a series of silvery blue-green globular clusters lying at the bottom of the pool. They are a form a seaweed, which resembles something from outer space. In 1970 they were studied by Chace and Manning of the Smithsonian Institute from specimens collected by D.S.Rogers, and found to be a species new to science and in fact were a new family altogether, so were given the name Drocaris Ascenionis. They make a spectacular photograph but please do not try to disturb them as they are quite rare and need to be preserved.

The other very interesting species in these pools may be not much to look at but is in fact very specialy. It is a tiny shrimp, named Typhlatya rogersi (after D.S.Rogers) and is found only on Ascension Island, its nearest relative being a similar shrimp in the subterranean pool of Cuba and Mexico.

Enjoy viewing these creatures but please be careful not to disturb them, their hold on life is very fragile and they are the last representatives of a once widespread family.

The return to Mars bay is along the same path by which you came, and then on to your car keeping well in under the shade of the lava flow to avoid disturbing the Wideawake terns.

Ascension Island Postcards available on-line

The Ascension Island Post Office has for sale 2 sets of postcards depicting many scenes from this beautiful and unusual volcanic island.

One set consists of 6 cards and the other consists of 18 cards.

All the cards are sold on behalf of two of our island charities and are all "brand New".

Graphics, more information and purchasing details can be found on the Ascension Island Post Office web pages.

A sample Postcard - Green Turtle, Ascension Island.
(Photographed by Steve Prewer). Copyright © RAF Welfare Shop.

Hash Trash
Hash No.749 - From NASA car park

'If your’re going on a HASH this afternoon’ she said ‘then John Lucas would like to go along too’ and after exchanging a few pleasantires she put down the phone. We joined the rest of the tribe at the NASA car park and waited for instructions from trail blazers Sniffy and Dozy Ha’P’orth.

It was declared that this was a nice easy hash but to watch out for ‘poke-in-the-eyes’, crab holes, narrow ledges and sheer drops, three circle checks and two bar checks. Then the ‘On On’was sounded. The pack set off at a brisk pace until arriving at the first circle check. This circle check was so cleverly placed that A-Drain and Coffee Mate overshot the mark and had to be called back from White Horse - well almost. They were heading in the wrong direction anyway as the trail led us into Cricket Valley. Once into the basin we encountered the poke-in-the-eyes - prickly cactus ouch ! Anyway we all arrived safely at the second circle check, a cool spot under the Eucalyptus trees deep within the basin.

The narrow ledge and sheer drop came next as we made our way up the cliff face and out of Cricket Valley to the last circle check. Phew ! what a relief. By this time it was thought that it just had to be over the ridge and onto level ground with an easy run back to camp. Alas this was not to be as we had to go across this treacherous hill (where sheep would not dare venture) and down into the ravine before arriving at the home arrow.

We were now contemplating cold beer and sandwiches - ‘I hope it is my favourite egg and mayonnaise’ TT was heard saying. Puffing and blowing up the steep hill and home how disappointed we all were - cold beer in abundance but alas no sandwiches. I am sure the Elders will not forget this serious crime at the next Pow Wow. It was some consolation however, when it was announced that all HASHERS were invited up to Coffee Mates for a barbecue later on. Thanks Jeff and Jim for a superb evening.

Thanks to Sniffy and Dozy for an excellent hash.

This weeks HASHERS - The Fugitive, Sniffy, Dozy Ha’P’orth, Near Miss, Gilligan, A-Drain, Captain Klingon with offsprings Ian and Graham, Xena, The Human Mattress, Stealth, New Knees, Coffee Mate, Peacock, Thunderthighs, Fit Guy, Wannabe, Lady Like, Thomas the Tank, Shirley Temple, Nocturnal Emersion, First Class, Lonnie Hayes and John Lucas.

Saturday, 22nd May - Hash cancelled due to the Ascension Day Fair
Saturday, 29th May - From Command Hill

(Stealth - Hash Scribe)

EDITOR -Caroline Parker

Address: The New Islander Office, Fort Hayes, Georgetown, Ascension Island.
Tel/Fax: 00 + 247 6327
E-Mail: editors@the-islander.org.ac
Deadline: 12 PM Tuesdays

Contributors: Neil McFall, Penny Peters, Debbie Prince, Father Keith, Betty Joshua, Darrin Henry, Sharon Andrews, Anita Stevens

Printers: Niddy, Shirley & Maureen

Deadline for all contributions is 12.00 on Tuesday