Falklands : Falklands Biography Project Sparks Local and International Interest.
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 07.02.2006 (Article Archived on 21.02.2006)
Former Governor David Tatham has returned to the Falklands to research his Falklands Biography Dictionary.
FALKLANDS BIOGRAPHY PROJECT SPARKS LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL INTEREST
By J. Brock (FINN)
Falklands history buffs were treated to a lecture by former Governor Mr. David Tatham on Monday night at the Community School Library. Mr. Tatham’s Dictionary of Falklands Biography – in rough form now – contains short biographies of 515 people who were and are associated with the Falkland Islands.
Mr. Tatham said he became interested in compiling a dictionary of Falklands Biography while Governor in the early ‘90s when, at evensong at Christ Church Cathedral he noticed plaques with family names on them. In his reading he came across a book by Archivist Jane Cameron’s father about the Andreason Family during the Battle of the Falklands on 08 December 1914.
Seen as a popular history, Mr. Tatham hopes the finished dictionary will sell for a maximum of £20.00. Thus far he has received funds from Legislative Council to cover postage as well as being given a website at http://www.d-falklands-b.org. The Shackleton Fund has also contributed funds for the project. However, serious money will be needed in order to complete the publication of the dictionary. The book needs to be well designed with outstanding graphics and photos in order to sell well. Hopefully hard back editions will be produced for libraries and embassies, with the normal print run consisting of heavy duty paperback copies.
During the lecture Mr. Tatham passed around a list of Orphans – 34 in number to begin with but now down to 20 – that need someone to write them up. He also passed around helpful guidance notes for interested people who want to have a go at writing up the Orphans.
A second ambition of Mr. Tatham’s is to convey Falklands history back to Capt Davis and even prior to him. Mr. Tatham has said that he has information that shows Capt. Davis may have re-discovered the Islands.
During the lecture there were three more people identified who might be of interest.
Rough Drafts that were passed around had names as diverse as Willie Bowles and his former neighbour, Jack Sollis. It is possible that an annex to the dictionary would have people listed in order of the date of their birth. Another would contain a list of Governors as well as managers of the Falkland Islands Company.
The dictionary is by no means ready to be published, though the draft form makes a real good read. If anyone is interested in the project, David Tatham has three weeks left in his Falklands research. He can be contacted at the Archives on 27249.
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