New photographs on the FIA Website

The FIA website is now up to date with reports on the Wakehurst Place visit and the Falkland Island Government Reception at Lincoln's Inn. For the latter event an album of photographs is attached on the 'photos' page.

All thanks to Doug Lapsley of Citrus Media who maintains the website for us. Doug has a website page at www.citrus-media.co.uk which describes his activities but his other passion is photography and for some stunning pictures have a look at his website called Landscape Photography at www.frozen-light.co.uk.

Back from Bird Fair

I attended the British Bird Watching Fair over the past weekend - assisted on the Falklands Conservation stand and paid visits to FITB and FITT travel stands - good to meet old friends and new. Now to try and catch up with the post. Some new memberships have come in.

BIRD FAIR 2011

I'm off to the British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water - setting up today and then three days on the CJ Wildbird Foods Stand (in marquee 3 if your visiting). I also hope to be spending some time with Falklands Conservation, Falkland Islands Holidays and Falkland Islands Tourist Board, all of whom have stands at the show - see you there perhaps.

More on HMS Protector

I have been reading a report on the Comissioning Service for HMS Protector in Protector Post, the Newsletter of The HMS Protector Association, and this provided useful information for a note I am writing for the FIA Newsletter on this subject. The survey boat that will be carried on board the new Protector was named James Caird IV at the same event. Whilst in London today attending to FIA business at the Falkland Islands Government Office I was able to meet Sir James Perowne who was staying at the Union Jack Club and who had led the Protector Association contingent at the commissioning ceremony. He had presented Captain Sparkes with a solid silver 'Flaming Grenade' table lighter first presented to the ship in 1936 (see picture).  

Captain Sparkes, Keith Towle and Sir James Perowne

more pictures of the ceremony can be seen on The Protector Association website at http://www.hmsprotector.org click on 'Gallery' and follow the leads.