S.Atlantic : Sartma Daily (19/08/05)
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 19.08.2005 (Article Archived on 02.09.2005)
A Quick Overview of South Atlantic News
SARTMA DAILY (19/08/05)
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
CONTENTS
Section 1: Items from Calling the Falklands
Section 2: Announcements
Section 3: FIRS News Direct
VISITORS’ CENTRE FOR SS GREAT BRITTAN OPENS TO THE PUBLIC
A Report for BBC World Service “Calling the Falklands” by Graham Bound (GB) 16/08/05
We are off to Bristol Docks where a new visitors’ centre has just been opened at the SS Great Brittan. Visitors can now trace the long history of the first iron screw-propelled ship, including its time as a hulk in the Falklands and its 1970 recovery from a sandy cove near Stanley. Mike Cannings (MC) is the commercial director of the SS Great Brittan Trust and, earlier today told me what all this means for Brunell’s great ship.
MC: One, there is a combination of 3 years’ work and another level is the combination of 35 years’ work. The SS Great Brittan has always had a great story to tell. But perhaps it’s one we have not been able to tell so well. I think visitors that have come onboard today get a chance to really find out more about the ship and see her in the context of Victorian life. So, as a visitor attraction it’s been phenomenally successful and I think – and you, Graham – well remember the ship leaving the Falklands 35 years ago.
GB: I remember her being beached in Sparrow Cove and running around her as a 9 year-old boy. My memory is like many Falkland Islanders and is rather nostalgic about the ship. But it is good to hear this really because I know you and your predecessor were struggling for almost 35 years. So do you feel you have turned the corner now at the Great Brittan and instead of just keeping it above water – you are there?
MC: I think so. We’ve got one or two special projects going ahead but in essence we are there.
GB: How is this reflected in visitor numbers? Are you getting more people through the turnstiles?
MC: We are getting a lot more people through. We had no idea what to expect when we re-launched on July the 16th. A quick look before I came on air showed our visitor numbers for the first two or three weeks were in excess of 160% up on visitor numbers last year.
GB: What sort of numbers? Are we talking about thousands a day?
MC: In the first couple of weeks we are talking about 12,000 visitors in the first two weeks and last week we had 5,200 visitors.
GB: Mike, clearly this is an exciting time for you and your colleagues. When you have a drink in the evenings and look back on it, what are the remarks from visitors that stick in your mind? Literally, what are they telling you?
MC: We are getting people from Bristol who were able to monitor their visit 15 years ago – 20 years ago and the visit now – they’re absolutely staggered. When she was recovered from Staley from Sparrow Cove and brought back, she was a floating scrap yard in many people’s eyes. There was a great deal of history but not that much of real ship in terms of the vision of the ship. Now she has been restored to her launch condition in 1843 above the water line and they are staggered.
GB: She’s their ship and they are proud of her.
MC: Yes. I think people from Bristol think of it as their ship. And probably Falkland Islanders think of it as their ship, too.
GB: Can we have her back now that you have done the work?
MC: Come across and visit.
ROYAL MAIL PRICING COULD AFFECT THE FALKLANDS
A Report for BBC World Service “Calling the Falklands” by Deborah Vogel (DV) 19/08/05
You may have already heard that the Royal Mail has announced a major change in the waqy it works out the price of postage. It’s not going to happen until September next year, when the cost of posting a letter or package is going to depend on its size and shape as well as its weight. That’s because Items that are large or bulky cost more to sort and to handle than regular size ones, even if they weigh the same. Initially, this system will only be used for mail within the UK, when it is brought in next year. But already, Royal Mail is looking at the pricing of overseas mail and it expects to put forward similar proposals for mail sent outside Britain, including the Overseas Territories. These proposals will have to go through international consultation before they are approved, so that could take some time.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Sea Cadets will be holding their extraordinary general meeting on 06 September at 1900 at the Sea Cadet HQ. This will be chaired by H. E. the Governor Mr. Howard Pearce. All members of the public are welcome to attend.
Homecare will be closed for stocktaking from 27 August until completion.
To Rent: A three bedroom furnished house, minimum 1 year lease. For further details, phone Keith on 32246.
FIRS NEWS DIRECT: FRIDAY, 19 AUGUST 2005
Compiled by Amy Johnson (AJ) and Stacy Bragger (SB)
BFBS:
Metal fatigue was the reason BFBS Television was off Wednesday night and some of yesterday. The built-in aerial on the mast on Sappers Hill broke off and therefore caused an interruption to TV programmes. The weather also made progress worse. The BFBS engineers said that an old receiver had been brought back into use as a temporary measure and will be replaced with a new one, adding that this will hopefully be done today, which may result in a very short break in programmes. Cable & Wireless will be assisting with the work.
CAMP ROAD SHOW PRESENTATION:
Cable and Wireless are also doing a presentation today at the Camp Road Show at Goose Green. They will be discussing issues facing the business, such as the Camp Access Network, now being obsolete, revenue and customer satisfaction, also the way forward for the Camp System, which several suggestions, including the new generation network and to extend the life of the existing system. Other items being discussed will be the GSM mobile phones, internet upgrade, introduction to broadband and other subjects.
There were also presentations on the economy by Chief Executive, Chris Simpkins and Deputy Financial Secretary, Keith Padgett.
MV FOREST:
The MV Forest is the ship that used to carry cargo including wool, mail and stores. Fred Clark (FC) came into the studio to tell me a bit about her.
AJ: When did you first start work on the Forrest?
FC: When I first came to the Falklands I went on the Forest for a year as engine room assistant. I must admit it was for a very selfish reason. I was new in the Islands and the Forest went to every settlement. So, if I worked on the Forest for a year, I got a free trip around the Islands and visited everybody and got to know everybody. She was a great little ship that basically carried food and supplies around the Islands but one of the main jobs the Forest did was take the Royal Marines out on patrol. We would take a group of 10 out to Saunders and leave them for a week and then we went back and picked them up and take them out to the Jasons. If there was any report of suspicious activity the Forest was tasked to take a few Marines out to see what has happened.
WOOL PRESS ARTICLE:
There’s an article in this month’s Wool Press about Willow Trees written by Jim McAdam from the UK Falkland Islands Trust. Many people in the Falklands are interested in planting trees for shelter, products or simply to improve the appearance of their property. Since the 1980s the Trust has been encouraging tree planting through publications and trials at various places including Fitzroy, Kepple and here in Stanley, adding that one tree, which grows well is the Willow tree. Dr. McAdam asks if anyone has a Willow tree, the trust asks that you send them a bundle to Ron Reid at Port Howard
GOVERNMENT VEHICLES WORKING GROUP MEETING NEWS:
At the Government Vehicles Working Group Meeting on the 4th of August, Ralph Harris, the Plant and Vehicles Manager, reported that there were 11 vehicles currently in the pool. This figure is more than required. Ralph said that, in his opinion, an ideal number would be 3 on East Falkland and one on West Falkland. A number could therefore be sold.
(100X Transcription and Monitoring Service)
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