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The Ascension Island Newspaper |
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The Ascension Island Newspaper |
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Public Consultation Paper: Into the New Millennium |
The following is a letter given to the Islander By Harvey Armstrong and Robert Read, who are here to investigate and help draft the Terms of Reference for the Fiscal Survey mentioned in the Consultation Paper.
“As was indicated in the 25 May edition of “The Islander”, a colleague (Robert Read) and I have been briefly visiting Ascension. We have, I am sure, been instantly recognisable driving our “Smiley” car and managing to get lost repeatedly in both Georgetown and Two Boats.
We are a couple of academics with research interests in the economic development of small states and island communities. Robert is based at Lancaster University and I am at Sheffield University. The FCO has asked us to help draft the Terms of Reference for the Fiscal Survey mentioned in the Consultation Paper. Draft Terms of Reference will be completed by the end of June (coinciding with and drawing on the results of the consultation exercise with the Millennium document). The full Fiscal Survey is scheduled to be completed by the end of December 1999. The Fiscal Survey is designed to run alongside the formal land survey and the legal review which are also mentioned in the Consultation Paper.
Our purpose in visiting Ascension has been to get the view of as many people as possible on what the Fiscal Survey should take a long look at. Your views are of vital importance in helping us to prepare the Terms of Reference. We are sorry that we have been unable to meet everyone in the time available. There is still plenty of time to make your views known by responding, as requested, to the Consultation Paper in the ways set out on page 6 of it. From July onwards once the Fiscal Survey in under way, there will be other opportunities to make your views known.
The two big issues flagged up in the Consultation Paper have been at the heart of all our discussions here. Firstly what are the conditions needed to be created on Ascension to improve employment and prosperity for both Ascension and St. Helena?. Secondly, how best to finance and manage the essential services on Ascension?
These are big questions and they need careful thought and discussion. We are grateful to everyone we have met for taking so much time to give us their views and advice. There is clearly a wealth of experience to draw upon here in Ascension. We are keeping as open a mind as possible since the real research has still to be done. We have struggled to keep to our task despite the many attractions of the island and the marvellous hospitality we have enjoyed from everyone we have met.
Please keep the opinions and advice coming
Harvey Armstrong
29 May 1999”
LETTERS| From Editor: Here I am back in the “big chair” after 4 weeks of reading the other magnificent editors work. Who’s turn is it next anyway??? Has it really been 4 weeks since the last big rain storm when the school was closed due to flooding and roads became difficult to spot due to all the klinker washing onto them. If it happens again this week then it looks like you can guarantee rain whilst I’m on the editing job. Congratulation are due to Johny Hobson and the Scouts for raising a vast sum of money whilst you all enjoyed yourselves, and special thanks to all the bar staff who kept you all entertained and adequately refreshed until the small hours of the morning at the expense of getting any photos for the Islander. |
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Dear Friends,
Since we arrived there has been quite a lot of “coming and going” on the island, and you soon get used to a very transitory population.
As far as St. Mary’s is concerned we have, in the short space of eight months lost a churchwarden, two members of the choir, our organist, one of our most faithful worshippers, and at the same time the congregation varies from week to week as people go off on courses or are working shifts or on leave - or are simply recovering from the night before.
Most departures, especially of those who have been here some while, are celebrated - it that’s the right word - by a party or dance with family and friends all invited to an evening of remembering the good times and offering good wishes for the future.
Last Friday night was no exception, with the RAF holding a dinner in honour of HH the Administrator, Mr Roger Huxley and Niddy, the Station Commander SQN Ldr Adrian Hayward and Kate, and the USAF Base Commander Major Jeff Lowdermilk, all of whom leave the island soon; we shall miss them all. An excellent dinner, marvelous music, and although no doubt a more formal occaision than some of the “farewells”, nevertheless it went on well into the early hours.
Another farewell coming about soon is the retirement of our Bishop, John Ruston in July.
So in many ways it will be “all change”.
In one of our late evening services we pray that “we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world may rest upon Thy eternal changelessness”.
On an Island of change, named after the day when Jesus said a last “farewell” to those he left behind, let us thank God for his changeless love and for Christ’s promise, “Lo I am with you till the end of time”
God Bless You and Keep You,
Fr Keith & Ginny.
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Last week, our weekly channel airlift mission, a C-17 aircraft, was cancelled. Apparently, with several world events on-going, an aircraft could not be located to fly the mission. Since coming to the island in July 1998, this is the first cancellation I have witnessed. We were almost lucky enough to secure an Air Transport International (ATI) aircraft to fly later in the week, but the aircraft was configured for cargo only and no passenger seating. Unfortunately, the cargo load at Patrick Air Force Base did not justify using the aircraft. I am unsure what type of aircraft was identified. We were fortunate, however, to get Space-Available seating for four of 11 individuals attempting to leave the island on a C-5 aircraft flying from Ascension Island to Puerto Rico. This week’s ATI DC-8 aircraft arrived without a hitch bringing most of the backlogged cargo, mail, and food.
Also last week, we supported the last Phoenix Giraffe C-5 aircraft. The months of March through May 1999 have been relatively busy for Wideawake Field. A total of 61 United States military aircraft have been supported. This included 27 Phoenix Giraffe, 8 Blue Crane, 1 Phoenix Hippo, 12 weekly channel missions, and 13 special mission aircraft.
The softball regular season is winding down. The standings are as follows:
Georgetown 10-2 Dodgers 5-7 Admin 9-3 SerCo 3-8 Fire/Security 7-3 Hot Shots 2-9 Bad Boyz 10-4 Airheads 1-11 After the regular season concludes, a double-elimination tournament (knockout) will be held. Each team will remain in the tournament until they experience two losses. This should result in at least 13 games during the tournament.
On May 27th, the Space Shuttle Discovery made a successful liftoff. Ascension Auxiliary Airfield provided orbital support for this mission to link up with the International Space Station. The thrust of this mission is to prepare the Space Station for work and living conditions for future missions. The 7-person crew included five Americans, one Canadian, and one Russian. The crew also included three women, one of which, Ms Tammy Jernigan, is the most experienced. This is her fifth shuttle mission, previously logging 1,277 hours in space. Ms Jernigan is performing as a mission specialist.
Major Jeff Lowdermilk
SERCoVACANCIESSerco are currently inviting applications for the following positions: 2 x Painter Finishers 1 x Electrician All applications to Mr M Samuels, GES, The Airhead, Ascension Island Tel:3341 |
The Met Office Weather Report
Statistics for the week ending Sunday 30th May 1999.
| Max (deg C) | Min (deg C) | Rainfall (mm) | |
| AIRHEAD | 30.3 | 24.8 | 0.5 |
| TRAVELLERS | 28.6 | 20.5 | 4.9 |
| GEORGETOWN | 31.0 | 24.5 | 0.8 |
| RESIDENCY | - | - | 2.5 |
| ST. HELENA | 22.2 | 15.2 | 0.4 |
| FALKLANDS | 9.9 | -2.4 | 5.8 |
| BRIZE NORTON | 25.2 | 4.7 | 16.4 |
ASCENSION SEA SWELL FORECAST ( based on
data available on Monday afternoon) :The south to
southwesterly swell will be well up during the whole week and may
be 3 to 3.5m during the weekend.
Sea temperature around Ascension Island : 28 C.
ASCENSION ISLAND: A good deal of dry weather during the
week with ony a few light showers at Airhead, although Georgetown,
Travellers and Two Boats had more in the way of showers. Thursday
was the warmest day and Friday/Saturday the coldest night.
ST HELENA: Gary Thomas reports:- Generally a rather
overcast week with just the odd light shower - Saturday being the
sunniest with 5 hours. We still await some decent rainfall to top
up the domestic water supply - irrigation supplies are just about
exhausted.
U.K: A rather cool start to the week with a lot of cloud
and westerly winds but a warm front brought summertime
temperatures by Thursday to most parts of England and Wales,
whilst Scotland and Northern Ireland stayed rather cool and
cloudy. There was a price to pay though, because by the weekend
thundery showers came up from the south to affect parts of
Southern England.
FALKLAND ISLANDS: Winds were west to southwesterly for
much of the week producing cool weather with showers at times,
some of which were wintry. Most nights had a slight ground frost
and there was air frost on Thursday and Sunday mornings. High
pressure moved into the islands by the weekend, giving mostly dry
weather with some sunshine.
As I explained last week Professor Gill came to Ascension Island in 1877 to observe the opposition of Mars and to measure its angular distance from the nearby stars and thus produce as accurately as possible a measurement of its distance from the Sun.
His wife Isobel, accompanied him on the trip and later wrote a charming little book called "Six Months in Ascension - An Unscientific Account of a Scientific Expedition". It tells the story of everyday life in camp and in general the details behind the expedition and is well worth reading, although sad to say there are not many copies of it around today. It seems that Mrs Gill was quite a remarkable lady and an able assistant for her husband's scientific work, even though she was no scientist herself.
As well as the heliometer described last week, Gill brought with him a transit telescope and the two instruments were set up in Georgetown in plenty of time for the opposition of Mars in the September. However, once readings started to be taken it was found that cloud coming off Green Mountain hampered the observations considerably and it became necessary to find a the more suitable site. This is where Isobel Gill came into the picture in a big way, for she went out on a night-time walk across the rough clinker to the south of Georgetown to find a place free of cloud. Remember there were no roads in the area at that time and Main Base and Airhead had not even been dreamt of! She took with her a couple of Kroomen and eventually came to the edge of the cloud band that was streaming from off Green Mountain, at the place that is now called Mars Bay in honour of the expedition.
All the delicate equipment, as well as all the stores and living accoutrements, then had to be transported over the rough terrain. In fact however, most of the baggage was carried down the coast by boat, though the delicate heliometer tube had to be lashed to a spar and carried overland by Kroomen.
Gill was then able to make his observations mostly unhampered each day before sunrise and after sunset ,the parallactic displacement of the planet being at its greatest at these times. A value of 8.78 seconds was deduced for the solar parallax and the successful result of this series of observations led Gill to make a very elaborate series of heliometer readings from the small planets Victoria ,Iris and Sappho in 1888 and 1889, when they too were in opposition. The final resulting value of the solar parallax was 8.80 seconds, very little different from Gill's Ascension Island result.
The Gill's camp site at Mars Bay can still be seen, having lain virtually untouched since 1879. It lies just beyond the Mars Bay Wideawake Fair, near to the sea, although if the birds are in residence it is difficult to get to and the visit is best postponed , until they have gone, especially as you would in all probability cause a lot of disruption to them. To get to the camp site follow the instruction for getting to the Wideawake Fair as described two weeks ago and continue walking along the foot of the lava field over on your left. The path is mostly well marked right down to the coast at Mars Bay. Of course if the birds are not there you can if you like take a more direct route towards the coast. At the water's edge you will find a concrete block with a cable leading inland. Stand on this block and look towards South Gannet Hill (the one with the "golf ball" on top), then over to your left you will see the flashing beacon at Airhead. In front of this in the near distance you will see a low rocky mound, that is the position of Professor Gill's camp. On the top of the rocky mound will be found the crumbling remains of the pillar on which the telescope was mounted but the most striking thing is that all around are the neat paths laid out by Isobel to mark the way between the various parts of the camp. The large circular area represents their main tent, other areas were for cooking and for the helper's quarters. There is even a pile of decorative shells left close by the main tent, but please don't disturb them, they have lain untouched for over 120 years and are part of the history. Photograph of the Gills at their camp site and a copy of Isobel's book can be viewed at the Heritage Society Gallery on a Saturday morning from 11.00.
It is incredible that the site has remained undisturbed for so long, in another country a small museum would be built on the site and visitors would be charged £5 just to look at it. Look at it here for free but please, please do not do anything to disturb it.
SCHOOL PAGE
From the Headteacher - Mrs Betty Joshua
Hello everyone
This week we bring you news of musical sounds at TBS!
Middle Two's Special Assembly
Thursday morning of last week saw keen parents and friends of Middle Two pupils gather into the Hall for an 8.30 start to M2's Special assembly. Kassie Duncan welcomed everyone and explained that the theme was music. She said, "Over the past few months much emphasis was put on music. The Queen's Commonwealth message was about music and she said …….'For all of us, young and old, music is an essential part of life'. At the Pierhead on Friday, 5 March, we enjoyed watching the talented group I.B.F. Then on the following Monday, 8 March, the central Band of the Royal Air Force performed for us in our hall".
Kassie's introduction opened the way for the first item on the programme which was an instrumental entitled 'Love Me Tender' and this was performed by the whole class and their teacher Wendy Joshua who played a mixture of instruments including guitars, recorders, keyboards, xylophones, triangles and drums. The class received an enthusiastic applause for their very good efforts. Playing as a large group is not easy but they certainly held it together well. This performance is seen as the beginning of greater things to come! So stay tuned children!
Next followed Josh Turton and Oliver Ryan with explanations about their choice of music. Josh told us "I like the more modern music - 'pop', but I'm still 'picky' about what I listen to. My favourite bands are Robbie Williams, Steps, and Denga Boys because of the relaxed words and music". Oliver, on the other hand, directed his choice to Rock and Blues and enlightened us about his favourite bands who are U2, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, etc. etc. He told the audience: "The reason why I like Rock and Blues music is because it isn't computerised. It has a lot of guitar in it and it sounds good. Blues music was formed by black slaves who were imported to America. Whilst there, one of the slaves picked up a Spanish guitar which he didn't know how to play, but played it anyway and sang about the hard times he'd been through. Rock music was formed by musicians who got together and played different styles of music. The best way to think about how Rock music was formed is to think of it as mixing different colours together to make another colour. If you mix red and yellow you get orange, for instance. Well, now you know the history, go off and listen to it!!". And I'm sure those of us who are that way inclined might just take him up on that! Oliver then treated us to a guitar rendition of 'Spanish Dance' which was delightful to the ear.
Kassie then announced the third programme item which was a play entitled 'Packing Up' and this was acted out by our Year 6 pupils from the class who, as she explained, will be packing up very soon in their Middle two classroom and moving on to Senior School in September. Well, as we gathered from the play, poor old Dad was not happy with the packing and the unpacking because the rest of the family weren't being very helpful and were putting things there to be packed when really, they were needing them on the journey - things such as baby 's potty (!!!) and the tickets for the ferry ride to the Isle of Wight!! This was a very entertaining play and the main characters could certainly be heard in our somewhat large hall. Well done Year 6. Do remember to do your own packing up properly when leaving Middle Two because Mrs. Joshua will not want you running back to her for your vital bits and bobs which you will no doubt need to set you on the right path for secondary education!
The assembly was brought to an end with a colourful Carnival Dance performed by the whole class after a congregational hymn and a prayer which Kirsty shared with us.
Awards Assembly
An awards presentation took place during the morning as well and we were delighted to present class awards to Vicky Bendall for tremendous all-round effort in the different subjects and to Nathan Hone for his excellent handwriting. Oliver Ryan who was on holiday in the U.K. at the time of a mass presentation of swim awards to Middle school pupils at the end of last term, received his Stage One, Two and Bronze Challenge certificates. Phillip Stevens from Year 9 was presented with a Special Mention certificate for the production of a General Studies project . Phillip was also on holiday when other members of his year group received theirs. Well done to all certificate recipients. Bringing together the total number of housepoints scored over the first three weeks of the current term, we had Connelly House receiving the cup by outdoing Beale by one point and Huxley by two. So competition was rather close for that period. With a very small gap between, there's no telling who the House winners will be in three weeks' time! However, in the meantime each House can remind themselves that 'I CAN DO IT!…….YOU CAN DO IT!…….WE CAN DO IT!!'
Royal Air Force Quintet Presentation
On Wednesday 26 May the Royal Air Force Brass Quintet came and play to us in our Hall on Wednesday lunchtime. This was an experience that I can safely say all present enjoyed. The band members also stayed on into the afternoon session and conducted a master class with Middle Two. This fitted in perfectly with the work on music they have already completed.
Queens Birthday and Half Term
Monday 14 June is given as a public holiday in lieu of the Queens Birthday. This is followed by half-term which runs from Tuesday 15 - Friday 18 June
And on that note I'll bow out singing the Blues.
Bye for now....
Betty Joshua
Headteacher.
Cub Scouts Visit the Residency
On Tuesday 25th May, the Cub Scouts were kindly invited to spend their normal pack meeting night at the Residency.
Whilst there, they performed a small Jungle Book play, as part of their "Adventure Award" badge, for Mr and Mrs Huxley and some of the Residency staff (Winnie and Cheryl). After the very well performed play, Jungle Book stickers (shown right) were given to the spectators.
The Cubs then took advantage of the Residency lawn and, with the help of Mr Huxley, pitched several tents to practice their tent erecting skills prior to their camp next week. The Cub Scouts would like to express their gratitude to Mr & Mrs Huxley for allowing them to aerate the Residency's lawn and allowing the Cubs to relieve them of several rounds of sandwiches, cake and squash! Thank You.
[The following article has been compressed from several e-mails sent to "The Islander" over the last couple of weeks and we think is an interesting insight into what life was like here over fifty years ago. - Nathan Prince]
I am the editor of the "Men of the 57th", an association of 12th Air Force veterans who flew our planes to combat by way of Ascension Island.
I am very interested in old pictures and scenes of Ascension Island, the runway (then) and now. The ramp area likewise. Our newsletter, really a magazine of 52 pages put out quarterly to approx. 2000 veterans and their families, is full of pictures of those times but only I have only two pictures of the island in those times.
The "Men of the 57th" flew their B-25's from Natal to Ascension during 1943 to 1945. The 321st flew en masse to Ascension in early 1943, with about thirty planes making the trip. By flying as a group they were able to enter combat as soon as they reached North Africa. Those of us who flew over have very fond memories of spotting those little clouds many miles away with a dwindling fuel supply and then to see an island of equally small dimension. We also have fond memories of that spit of mountainous land and of the engineers who created that landing field.
Ascension left an indelible impression on me twice. Flying over and flying home. I wish we had been given the time to stay a day or two to meet the folks there. I never got back except in my mind's eye.
This view below is from the co-pilots seat on final approach. Taken by Russ Graze, 447th Bomb Squadron, 321st Bomb Group, 57th Bomb Wing, 12th Air Force. (We were all proud of the Wing, Group, and Air Force, but it was in the Squadron where we fought the enemy and were in competition with every other Group.) The picture was taken in 1944.
The picture below was taken after take off. As I recall we landed and took off in the same direction due to the slope of the runway--it would have been most difficult to have attempted to take off up-. ! the South Atlantic.slope. At the end of the runway it appeared to have a drop-off into the sea. After getting airborne we made a left turn around the island to the north east towards LiberiaAs I said that was one of the easy parts-really hard to miss AfricaOr Brazil! I am an imaginative fellow but I find it difficult to convey the message to you of my wonderment at your island and what it meant to all of us who used it as a way point across . Perhaps one could say it was another of "Life's defining moments"
I was looking through some old records and I found the orders, which sent me, and nine other crews (60 men) over to combat by way of Ascension.
Left Morrison Field, Florida on Dec. 31, 1944-arrived Puerto Rico after 5 hour
flight. Celebrated New Years eve with fun and frolic.
Departed Puerto Rico On Jan.1, 1945 at five minute intervals. Opened 'secret
orders' giving us our route and itinerary. Arrived in Georgetown, British Guinea,
after 4.5 hour flight. Over night there and had briefing of dangers of crashing
in the jungle.
Departed Georgetown for Belem Brazil on Jan. 2, 1945, for 5.5 hour flight to
Belem. Flew through severe thunderstorms-knee knocking type-saw a few circular
indian villages cut out of the jungle. Decided to get a close look and dove
down and buzzed the camp several times-so much for the dangers of the jungle.
Crossed the biggest river delta in the world with fingers flowing into the sea
and then the port city of Belem. Nice looking ladies but no time for romance,
nor inclination on the part of the ladies.
Leave Belem pre-dawn for 6hr. flight to Natal, Jan 3, 1945. Practised cruise
control and fuel conservation to get accurate fuel consumption check. Spent
the night there and headed for the beach the next day. Many sun burns resulted.
Big Day. January 5, 1945. Pre-dawn departure for Ascension Island 7 hours and
15 minutes. Sweated every sound of the enging or change in the guages. Reach
the Point of Return (take you as long to get back to Brazil as to get to Ascension).
Set back and enjoyed the view. Secret orders provided for changing frequencies
of the Wide Awake beacon every half hour and then the station would remain on
for only five or ten minutes-enough time to chect drift and make wind drift
correction. We saw our other ships enroute as we had taken off at fairly close
intervals. B-24's went by, we passed Catalina Flying Boats, B-17's and C-87
Red Ball Express Planes. A beautiful day and a busy sky.
Way out ahead we could spot a few clouds on the horizon. The only clouds we
had seen for the entire flight. Wide Awake beacon is hard ahead, clouds still
there and then a little bit of brown and gray. Started our let down and that
little old piece of brown and grey rock looked like the state of Texas.
Given clearance to land and we get a good look at the island as we come in.
Then the climb up the unique taxiway to the ramp. Fill 'er up and go to club
for a fill up of our own.
That evening walked over to the cliff side and looked down on what I felt were
some lonely lights down along the shore. I marvelled at Ascension and the hearty
souls who would call this home and expressed my silent gratitude that it was
there.
January 6, take off and left turn out, heading NE to Liberia, thence to Dakar,
Marrakech, Tunis, and Naples. Wait five days and sent to Corsica.
Fly first combat mission out of Corsica against the Brenner Pass and a heavily
defended target Ala. Had been told "you don't have to worry until you smell
the cordite and hear the 'death rattle' (flak making holes in your aircraft)".
Smell it and heard it!
June 26th, 1945. Leave Italy for the United States reversing our original route.
Arrive at Acension on the afternoon of July 1, 1945. Filled the tanks several
times that night and after an early morning flight departed this wonderful spot
and headed for Natal, Brazil. Easterly winds made fuel a sweat. Saw the coast
of Brazil with about 1hour of fuel on board. The coast line kept getting larger
and larger and the fuel supply got smaller. Requested straight in and landed
with about a half hour fuel supply.
Well there you are. One mans impression of spanning the Atlantic and his gratitude
that Ascension was available. I have never forgotten being there and at my desk
I can look up and see our WW II picture on my 4' x 5' map on my office wall.
Best regards,
Victor J. Hancock,
2009 Nantucket
Richardson,
Texas 75080
E-mail: victorj@airmail.net
| North American B-25 "Mitchell" |  |
DESIGN
A LOGO
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EDITOR - Ian
Andrews
The New Islander Office, Fort Hayes, Georgetown,
Ascension Island.
Tel/Fax 00 + 247 6327
Deadline: 12 pm Tuesdays
E-Mail: editors@the-islander.org.ac
Deadline: 12 PM Tuesdays
Contributors: Sharon Andrews, Ian Atkinson, Merlin
George, Victor Hancock, Betty Joshua, Father Keith, Jeff
Lowdermilk, Sue McEwan, Neil McFall, Caz Parker, Penny Peters,
Debbie and Nathan Prince, Wedgie and the Ascension Island Game
Fishing Club.
Printers: Niddy & Maureen
The Islander post-box is situated in the entrance to the
Administrator’s Office.
Deadline for all contributions as 12.00 on Tuesday
All articles © copyright 1999 The Islander Newspaper. All rights reserved. |
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