Falkland Islands Radio Service

Finally found a good link to the FIRS via www.tunein.com . Previous attempts to listen via the FIRS website had failed to connect but this works well (so far). I have to remember that Stanley is 4 hours behind us and a I write this after lunch Ailie Biggs is presenting the "Morning Experience".

MV Polarbjorn (soon to be HMS Protector) enters Portsmouth Harbour

The Icebreaker MV Polarbjorn entering Portsmouth harbour in her new role as HMS Protector on 23rd May 2011. She will officially named on June 1st and commissioned into the Royal Navy on June 23rd.

Already bearing her name PROTECTOR and her number A173 she has completed a refit which moved the flight deck from above the bridge to the stern  as well as the installation of new equipment.

Thanks to Bill Pollington and the HMS Protector Association for the photograph.

Lisa Watson to be the new Editor of Penguin News

Finally got around to downloading Penguin News and its official, our FIA Newsletter Editor is to be Managing Editor of Penguin News as from 6th June taking over from Tony Curran, the present Editor.

Lisa assures us that she will still be able to find time to produce the FIA Newsletter which she has done for several years whilst she was at SeAled PR.

I am sure all FIA members will wish her well in her new post.

Newsletters have arrived in the Falkland Islands

Gerald Cheek has just emailed to say that the air freighted boxes of Newsletters have arrived in the Islands. This is probably the fastest the bulk delivery to the Islands - well done DHL and the air carrier.

NatWest Islands Games 2011

Discovered today that the Falkland Islands Overseas Games Association has opened a site on Facebook to report news on the attendance of Falkland Islanders at the Nat West Island Games on the Isle of Wight from 25th June to 1st July 2011. We know that entries have been submitted from seven sports clubs in  the Islands representing Athletics (4), Badminton (10), Football (18), Golf (6), Shooting - Pistol and shotgun (7),  Shooting - Full Bore (2) and Swimming (1) supported by 8 team officials and 3 managers (from the report in FIA Nesletter 100 by Mike Summers and Steve Dent) .

This event will give UK members a chance to go along and support the Falkland Islanders teams.

The author John Walker rang this morning to thank us for mentioning his book 'The Adventures of Rocky the Rockhopper' in the Newsletter. I had to tell him that we were happy to do so but so far no one had requested a copy. Early days yet but we have ten copies at £13.00 inc post and packing.

Subscriptions coming in

Thanks to all who responded to the request for prompt payment of subscriptions which have been flowing in this last week. The best envelope I have seen for some time came in today (see below).

The cheque that came with it was almost a work of art

Visit to Wakehurst Place and the Millennium Seed Bank

Up  early last Thursday to catch the train  from Victoria to Haywards Heath, then the bus to Wakehurst Place to meet members joining the tour of the Millennium  Seed Bank (MSB).  Weather fine, some cloud but dry.

The public Exhibition Hall at MSB

By 10.45am 22 Members and friends had gathered at the entrance where we were met by Michael Way, Head of Collecting & Network Support at the MSB who welcomed us and lead us through to the lecture room in the Seed Bank and gave us an introduction to the history and purpose of the Seed Bank. We were then introduced to Tom Heller who had been on two trips to the Falkland Islands collecting seed. His talk focused on the work of the MSB in the Islands and was illustrated by pictures taken during his visits. On our trip round the laboratories we saw seeds being tested for germination and then we descended a spiral staircase to the actual vault where thousands of seed samples are stored  including some from the Falkland Islands. Of 177 species in the Islands 155 are potentially suitable for dry storage and of these 109 have been collected;  of the 13 endemic species in the islands 12 are already in the bank  and of 23 species  that are Red-listed in the 1956 list of threatened species 10 have been collected.

Sculpture of the seed of Devil's Claw

Inside the vault we saw how the seeds were finally prepared and packed for storage and we were able to look through into the main storage area where the temperature is maintained at -20C.
At the end of the visit our Chairman, David Tatham, thanked Michael Way and Tom Heller for a most interesting talk and tour.

After viewing the area of the MSB which is open to the public we moved to the Stables restaurant for a meal and an opportunity to meet other members of the party. Members were then free to explore the gardens at Wakehurst Place before making their way home. The only rain shower passed through whilst we were in the Seed Bank! The gardens were full of colour although we didn't have time to explore the whole site I am sure many members will be visiting again in the future.

Error on the Subscriptions renewal form

Ted Clapp rang this morning to say that he had spotted an error on the form. It appears I have suggested that members joining since 1st December 2010 are paid up until 31st March 2013! It should have read 2012 of course - hopefully those concerned will not read too closely or will have forgotten by next year when I come on to them for the next subscription. We checked that form half a dozen times - spit!

Newsletter has arrived!

The FIA Newsletter arrived this morning, my personal copy that is, which had been despatched by the mailing house with all the rest so members should have them dropping through their letterboxes today. It will be interesting to see how many come back this time marked "Gone Away"