The seventh annual French Presence Symposium and the eighth annual commemorative ceremony for the anniversary of the death of the Prince Imperial 2003 are being held in Pietermartizburg.
Mr Adam Kossowski, St Helena’s Commercial Representative for Southern Africa is representing St Helena and will be available to answer questions about the Island. It is expected that, in particular, questions may be asked about the Napoleonic connection.
Mr Kossowski arrived in Pietermartizburg today 28 May and will depart on 31 May. On 29 May he attends the meeting of the Kwazulu Natal Friends of St Helena Society, a society formed to promote the cultural interest and links between the Island and the province of Kwazulu-Natal. Whilst in Kwazulu Natal Mr Kossowski will present a paper titled: St Helena Island: History of Association with South Africa, Perspectives for Tourism & Broader Challenges. Following this he is also expected to meet with the Director of Tourism for Pietermaritzburg, and the Director of the Chamber of Commerce.
The symposium is being organised by Glenn Flanagan, who visited the Island in 2000 when she followed the route of the 23-year-old son of Napoleon III whose body was shipped to the UK in 1879 for burial. The ship stopped at St Helena and a posy of everlasting flowers was placed on his coffin creating a link with the Island. According to an article by Glenn Flanagan in the Technikon Natal, the Prince was killed in an ambush and his mother set off on a pilgrimage, paid for by Queen Victoria, to follow in her son’s footsteps. She visited the place where her son had died and planted a cutting of a weeping willow from St Helena. On her return to England, with her sons body, she visited St Helena to "pay her respects at the place where the founder of the dynasty had lived-in exile…"
The posy of everlasting flowers was of significance because they were introduced to the Island to be planted in the gardens of Longwood House where Napoleon Bonaparte was staying.
In 1873, 442 Saint Helenians settled in Pietermartizburg and a church and school was built to assist them in adapting to their new life. Descendents of these Saint Helenians are still in South Africa today, and it is expected that many will attend the symposium, which has grown in popularity since the first one was held in 2001.
Public Relations/Information Office
Office of the Chief Secretary
28 May 2003
