From the Editors:- Ed Jones & Jon Black

Hello again from the Ariane Team,

A bit of history was made in the wee hours of Saturday morning when we participated in the final launch of Ariane 4, thankfully all went well!!!!! In this weeks edition news on the fresh produce on sale in the shop, the results of the V.C.s' Rock fishing competition and more news on the forthcoming Musical Extravaganza in March.

Well that's all from us so have a good week.

Ed & Jon

P.S. Yes Adam, I do know that Wales were beaten by Italy at rugby (thankfully the tv went off), but revenge will be sweet on Saturday!!!!!!

Dear Sir/Madam

I am a journalist for the Metro newspaper in the UK - currently the country's fifth largest daily publication with a readership of 1.5million - and recently had the pleasure of visiting Ascension en route to the Falklands when accompanying two MPs on their parliamentary armed forces scheme.

I met the CO when there and said I would like to a story on the island for a page we have called Focus and he told me to contact you guys, among others. The piece would be about the future of the island, the proposals to try to open up some limited tourism and what there is to see on the island - i.e. what makes it special. This would lead nicely into some history about a place which so few people know anything about and has such a peculiar role within the British Empire

I was hoping somebody could contact me via email and tell me who the best people to talk to in this regard would. If you would prefer to phone my contact details are listed below. I look forward to hearing from you

Kind regards

Jamie Walters
Feature Writer
Metro Newspaper
Harmsworth Quays Printing
Surrey Quays Road
London SE16 7ND
Tel: 020 7651 5322
Mob: 07767 361722
Jamie.Walters@ukmetro.co.uk

Dear Islanders,

It has taken me a little while to catch up with things after my stay on Ascension, that it is only now that I can get down to thanking everybody for making my sister's and my return visit to the Island such a good one. When you have had such wonderful memories of a place like Pat and I had when we were out there in the late 60's, it can be a worry that it will be very different on the return trip.

I don't think we need have worried, everybody we came in contact with made our stay memorable, and we have a long list of people to thank, if I miss anybody out please forgive me. We would like to thank Cara and the people at the Obsidian, especially Shirley for the wonderful meals. Next we would like to thank Thomas, Dave and Pete at the Exiles for the excellent gin and tonics partaken there, not forgetting the very good Sunday lunch.

Thanks to Bronwyn for getting our BBQ's going when it looked like being a total disaster, my having failed that part in the Girl Guides

Thanks also need to go to the team down at the Ariane site for the interesting visit we had there, a good follow up to the visit we paid to the NASA site at the height of the moon visits. Also thank you to David Bones and his team for the visit to the BBC station and the power station. It looked almost the same as our last visit when Dad was still there, in fact apparently the transmitters are the same!!!

A big thank you is due to Richard Harris for organising the tree that we planted outside A2 at Two Boats in memory of our father John Balston, the first BBC resident engineer. At the start of our holiday it looked unlikely that we would get the tree planted before we left, but between him and the BBC we managed to get it done on the last day. A special thank you goes to Father Brian for the thoughtful prayer and kind words he said at the short ceremony, they were much appreciated.

Last but not least, thank you to everyone who turned up on our last night at Two Boats Club, we never expected to see so many people, I don't think we got round to say hello to everyone, but it was an excellent night (although the end is a bit hazy!). I don't think my son Alan knew what to expect when I dragged him out to the Island to act as chief driver, lifeguard, etc., but on the last day he said that it would be strange to go back to the UK and not wave at people when driving, dodge land crabs and sheep on the roads. I think the Island left an indelible impression on him too.

Just to say that I will be saving up so that I can come out again.

If anybody would like to get in contact with either myself or my sister we can be contacted at the addresses below. Thanks again

Jan Wilcox
54 Balvenie Dr
Motherwell
ML1 4FG
Jan_wilcox51@hotmail.com

Ps May I take this opportunity for wishing Robin Gough and his wife a very happy, healthy and long retirement.

PUBLIC NOTICE

VACANCY - BANK MANAGER, ST HELENA

A new bank is to be created in St Helena to provide a wider range of banking services than is currently available. The position of Manager of the bank is a key role both in getting the new bank established and in managing its smooth running in the initial period.

The Manager will be responsible for the day to day running of the bank, reporting to a Board of Directors who will be independent of Government.

The Manager will have three direct reports: the Chief Accountant responsible for accounts, systems and premises, the Chief Lending Officer responsible for all the lending activities of the bank, and the Retail Banking Supervisor responsible for the daily transaction processing in the bank. Candidates should have extensive experience of managing financial operations, preferably in a bank and be familiar with financial systems. They should be proactive managers of staff and be prepared to undertake training of staff in the key skills required. They should have sufficient knowledge and experience to be closely involved in the management of the three departments.
The appointment will initially be for a two-year period. Salary will be at Grade Level 9.

For further information, please contact Mr Robert Dolan, Financial Secretary on telephone number (290) 2470 or by e-mail at the following address: rdolan@sainthelena.gov.sh

Applications should be forwarded to the Secretary, Public Service Commission by the closing date, 28 February 2003.

Chief Personnel Officer
No.3 Main Street,
Jamestown
24 February 2003