I feel as if I have known about Tristan da Cunha all my life, at least since the islanders were evacuated to the UK in 1961, when I was 15. That was the time of the most recent serious volcano eruption, when the entire settlement was threatened by a lava flow. The people of Tristan were housed at the Air Force camp of Calshot in Hampshire and I remember clearly the two-way feelings of curiosity that were reflected in the British press on a regular basis. The islanders came from a community which had seen few changes since it was formed in 1816, and they had built up a resilience, a resourcefulness and a community spirit that was strange to most Brits in the 1960’s. Their strangeness was exaggerated by the Press, and I remember discussions at school that focussed on the way in which the Tristanians were treated as curiosity items. The islanders were provided for in terms of essential daily needs, but little effort was made to integrate them into British society. Indeed any attempts made at integration were unlikely to succeed given the huge differences in cultural background, for the islanders had little understanding of shopping, money, employment, travel, and all the myriad of things that were part of everyday existence for the people of Britain. A year after the evacuation, an advance party re-visited the island and it was found that the lava flow had not, as was feared, destroyed the houses in the settlement and that there was no reason why the people of Tristan da Cunha should not return to their island home, if they really wanted to. The vast majority of islanders decided to return to Tristan, and the press in Britain continued to demonstrate that they had little understanding of the nature of the islanders with comments like “Ungrateful blighters” – the press viewed that the so-called generosity of Britain towards the Tristanians should have resulted in the people of Tristan unanimously deciding that the British lifestyle was so much more rewarding than life on the island. They took the view that the islanders were making a big mistake in turning down all the advantages of living in a developed, civilised country. And they failed to understand how these people could choose to return to their wet and windswept island, that is distinctive for being the most remote inhabited island in the world.
Fifty three years later, early in 2016, the worldwide press latched on to an advertisement that had just been placed; many articles were written about the fact that a two year job was being offered to a British farmer on an “island paradise”. I liked the idea of an island paradise, and of course I read on. The main responsibilities were to concentrate on food security, self-sufficiency and sustainability. Existing farming enterprises such as cattle, sheep and potatoes were to be modernised and streamlined. New enterprises such as apples and polytunnel production were to be introduced. They were looking for a person with a wide range of farming knowledge and with experience of living in remote situations. I read the advertisement through four times, it seemed that they were describing me. I decided that the job had my name on it, and by the end of March I had accepted the job offer that had by then been made to me.
The following pages describe the challenges, frustrations and rewards that face my wife and me as the months go by on our ‘island paradise’. The plan is that we travel out in November 2016, and our sea-freight of personal effects is already on its way.
Can’t wait for the next instalment. Hope your posessions have arrived in one piece and you have a safe journey! Take care and enjoy your big adventure. Lesley
Thanks for the info and suppose that the two of you are settling in and getting to know the locals.We will be following your achievements with great interest from the loneliest island in the world! We wish you and yours and your friends on the island all seasons greetings and happy,enjoyable times.
Best wishes….old yins!
Bill&Irene Kerr. Glencoe
Great website! Look forward to hearing all about your first impressions, living conditions, etc. When do you arrive on Tristan?
We’re doing fine, except for the shock and dismay over the election of Trump! Uncertain times ahead that’s for sure!
Heather, Lee & Whitney are coming for Thanksgiving in two weeks! Very excited about that, especially since it will be their first visit here.
Take care and keep us posted.
Love,
Vicki & Dick
OMG – I was actually researching this island about a month ago! You guys do get around! Heaps to catch up on but just off out to work.
Maurice is fine but is recovering from a sudden heart attack 10 days ago – got a stent and has been signed off already but it was a close call. We will need a holiday come autumn but not sure about T de C – seem to remember it was a tad expensive getting there!
Will talk soon – Skype? Or good old landline?
Hugs to both xxx D and M
Thinking of you both and look forward to hearing about life on T d C!
Have tried to delete my email, name and website below-don’t know how it got there-help please!
Sally
Try phoning. The line is brilliant. E