FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 01 JUNE 2004

 

FANTASTIC FIGURES FOR CHALLENGE DAY:

 

Everyone who got breathless for challenge day can pat themselves on the back.  The final figures are out and Recreation Manager, Steve Dent, says 598 people joined in on the day. That’s around 30% of the Stanley population – way over the 25% target.  Steve said he was impressed with the target and the variety of activities that people took part in and offered his congratulations to everyone.

 

FIRE SERVICE DANCE:

 

It’s time to snap up your tickets for Saturday’s Fire Service Dance at the Town Hall.  The doors open between 2100 and 2300 with a bar running until 0100.  The event closes at 0200.  Louise Pole-Evans (LPE), Ian France (IF) and Steve Pearce (SP) told Liz Elliot about the dance on this morning’s Lifestyle programme.

 

IF:  There is going to be a live band, After Hours, which were formerly known as RIP.  We’ve also got DJs Shaky and Spurs that night as well. 

 

SP:  We will be holding the raffle hopefully around 2300.  The entrance ticket, which is £5.00 a ticket – is actually a free raffle ticket.  The prize is a weekend for two in Sea Lion Lodge with return flights.  There are also raffle tickets being sold now in various locations and on the night.  They are £1.00 for a strip of 5 tickets.

 

IP:  We’ve got a weekend for two at Saunders Island with return flights, a weekend for two at Port Howard Lodge with a one-way ferry journey from Stanley to Port Howard.  The reason it’s only one-way is because the ferry can’t call in two days later to pick the winners up.

 

LE:  Whoever wins that will have to book their flights back in?

 

IP:  That’s right.  We’ve also got a day out on the Leeds Castle, an afternoon with the Falkland Islands Defence Force and various other meals, bed and breakfasts, bottles of Spirits.  People have been very generous and various businesses and personnel have donated almost 40 actual prizes for the raffle.  We have actually got a novelty prize, which is a pogo stick, which is causing a bit of a laugh at the moment.

 

LPE:  We have roughly about 40 tickets left.  Hopefully between now and Saturday, we shouldn’t have too many left.

 

Tickets are available from the Fire Station and from Fire Service Members.  The event is open only to over 18s and dress is smart but casual.  All proceeds go to the Stephen Jaffray Memorial Fund.

 

SEEKING YOUR OPINIONS ON SCHOOL HOLIDAYS:

 

The Education Department is looking for parents’ opinions on the timing of school holidays.  Director of Education, Sylvia Cole (SC), says there is a lot of interest in changes to the holidays but she wants to hear what you think.  I asked her to explain more.

 

SC:  I think the main issues, really, are the result of peoples’ concerns, which have been aired recently, in terms of the placing of the schools’ Christmas break.  There has certainly been some concern that the schools break up too early in December and therefore certain activities and interests that the children could be involved in closer to Christmas are being lost.  So, I would be interested in the public’s impression of whereabouts the Christmas break should sit, whether it is too early.  I am also interested in whether, generally, people feel that the holidays are about the right length.  Are they too long or too shore.  And, also, in terms of half-term. 

 

SG:  There are complications, aren’t there, in terms of days the pupils have to be at school and also public holidays, whether they should or shouldn’t be in school on public holidays?

 

SC:  Obviously There are six point in the year which have to be taken into account.  And, as far as educationally, there are some points that we really cannot move.  There are the times around the 2^nd week in May when the Infant/Junior School take their exams.  In addition, the school year at FICS is very much determined by when the GCSE exams are on and the number of teaching weeks that we require before those exams to ensure that students are adequately prepared.  In addition, there is the problem of public holidays.  As far as I can see, from the information I have received, so far, and there has been a consultation with School managers, and with parents through school managers,  It seems that if we change the holiday pattern, we might find that some of the public holidays were falling into the school term.  So, really, it’s a question of things like Liberation Day or Battle Day.  Is it a problem for people out in Camp if their children aren’t home on those days, if they are here and able to take advantage of the parades and celebrations and commemorations.

 

A NEW HMS YARMOUTH:

 

A Falklands veteran is campaigning to get a new HMS Yarmouth after the type 12 Rough Sea Class Frigate, which served in the ’82 conflict and was decommissioned in 1986.  Allan Miller of Great Yarmouth, has set up an online petition to gain support for the name’s resurrection.  The first HMS Yarmouth was launched in 1665 and eight ships have borne the name over the years.  Mr. Miller said that the response has been encouraging however, so far, most of the people who have left messages of support on the website have been veterans, with only a few people from the town supporting the campaign.  The Eastern Daily Press says that Council leaders are to meet with the veterans, including many who were feted in 1984 when the ship was granted Freedom of the borough.  Mr. Miller said former crewmembers had been sad to discover the last HMS Yarmouth was sunk in target practice in 1987, after all they had been through the Falklands Conflict.

 

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