FINN (COM) DAILY RECORD: FRIDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2004
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
BREEZY WEDDING FOR FALKLANDS GOVERNOR
By J. Brock (FINN)
Warm, breezes and bright sunshine accented the wedding of H. E. the Governor Mr Howard Pearce and Miss Caroline Thomee. In Falklands terms, this wedding is a historic first, with the nuptials being held in the world’s most southerly Cathedral between the incumbent Governor and his fiancé. The service took place at Christ Church Cathedral in Stanley, Falkland Islands at 1215 on Thursday, 21 October 2004.
Out of use for many years, the Red Taxi was the vehicle of choice for the bride. The Chief Police Chief, Dave Morris, opened the taxi door for her. In the taxi with her was Miss. Thomee’s brother, who gave her away.
Reverend Paul Sweeting, Dean of the Cathedral, officiated at the ceremony that was broadcast over FIBS, KTV and Web-cam via Cable and Wireless plc. Prior to the bride’s arrival, H. E. the Governor, Mr. Pearce waited for her in the choir.
The Cathedral looked lovely, with tussock grass, accentuated with Falklands pebbles and stuffed Military Starlings near the altar and local flowers like Pale Maidens and Daffodils. Thanks to the three day effort of Mrs Janet Wilkinson, it all came together in a spectacular way. Mrs. Lidda Luxton provided some of the Daffodils and Jan Miller supplied other flowers.
Invited guests attending the ceremony witnessed the couple’s vows and the exchanging of rings that were partly crafted with Falklands gold. Governor Pearce was in full dress uniform and best man, Mr. Robert Napier, Chief Executive for the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, was decked out in his best kilt. According to Dutch tradition, there were no bridesmaids but Miss. Thomee’s friend, Loeky Kramer from Holland, attended her.
The bride was resplendent in a white floor-length sleeveless gown with a round neckline that she helped to make. She wore a single strand of pearls around her neck. On the gown were embroidered flowers in red and yellow. The dress was partly made of felted Falklands wool. A long veil flowed from a headband of yellow and white flowers completed the outfit. The bride carried a bouquet of daffodils.
A contingent of Falkland Islands Defence Force members headed Adam Cockwell formed a guard of honour. Brownie Guides greeted the couple after they left the Cathedral and they posed for photos underneath the Whalebone Arch.
Prior to the main reception in the Town Hall, the happy couple visited the Day Centre at the KEMH to share some of their wedding cake with Stanley’s senior citizens. H. E. the Governor and Mrs. Pearce then hosted a party in the Town Hall for the general public. Students from the Infant/Junior School decorated the hall on a Dutch theme. Most striking were the hand-made pastel tulips that were made by the students.
All who witnessed the wedding and went along to the public reception had an excellent day. Thanks goes out to the bride and groom for including the whole public in their wedding day celebrations.
FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 22 OCTOBER 2004
FALKLANDS REP AT COMMONWEALTH FOLLOW-UP:
A young Falkland Islander, who represented us at the Commonwealth Day celebrations in March, is going back to London for a Follow-up Seminar. Donna Triggs (DT) so impressed Councillors by saying she’d happily raise funding to go to the event, that they have offered to pay for half of her airfare. She explains what the March seminar meant to her.
DT: It was really interesting. We got to learn a bit about the history of the Commonwealth and what the commonwealth is and how it works. And, it was very educational.
SF: And what is this seminar you are going to next month about?
DT: It’s just a follow-up for the Commonwealth Day programme I went to in March. It’s just to finish off what we started in March. We will have more discussions about the Commonwealth, about human rights and about young people in the Commonwealth and the society. This is an invitation I received straight from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association because I went to the one in March.
I would like to thank the Councillors and Claudette Anderson for their help in helping me go to this Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meeting. Last time it was just so interesting and so educational I really did benefit from it. I brought information back to the Islands to help people understand about it because I didn’t understand until I went to the seminar.
When we first arrive, we introduce ourselves and where we are from and where we were based at the time. And from then on we congregated in the meetings to have discussions about the Commonwealth and listened to session leaders.
MPs VISIT:
Four politicians will be visiting here next month. The three Labour MPs and a member of the Welsh National Assembly will be arriving on the 19th for a week-long visit. Those coming are Vera Baird, who entered the Commons three years ago replacing Mo Mowlam in the Red Car seat, Alan Campbell, representing Tyne-mouth, Dari Taylor Tyneside, and Alun Cairns, who’s Conservative Economic Development and transport spokesman in the Welsh National Assembly. The Politicians are being accompanied by FIGO Rep, Sukey Cameron.
NEW HQ:
The Royal Navy’s new £20Million Fleet HQ was opened yesterday on the 199th anniversary of Trafalgar Day. The Princess Royal lead the ceremony. The new offices of the Commander in Chief Fleet had been built at Portsmouth Naval Base to act as a single site for Naval personnel previously spread across centres in London, Bath and Somerset. PA news reports that the merger is expected to save the Navy about £10Million a year in running costs. After the official opening ceremony, Princess Anne toured the new headquarters, named the Henry Leach Building in honour of the Admiral of the fleet, who was First Sea Lord during the 1982 war.
MEAT SHEEP:
A delegation of famous meat sheep breeding companies is coming to the Islands. The company is an outstanding Australian breeder of meat sheep, which has also extended to South America. The delegation will be arriving here on Saturday. The full-week agenda includes meeting farmers on both East and West Falkland, visiting the Sand Bay Abattoir and holding meetings with officials with the Department of Agriculture.
POLICE NEWS:
There was an accident near Goose Green just after 2030 last night. A Land Rover travelling along the road lost control at the corner and rolled several times. There was extensive damage to all four sides of the vehicle but the driver wasn’t injured.
COURT NEWS:
In the Licensing Court this morning applications were put forward for Justices On Licence, Restaurant Licence and a Children’s Certificate, all of which were approved. An application for an occasional licence in the Town Hall on 08 December was submitted by Stephanie Thain. The function is a fund raising Dinner-Dance for Stanley Sea Cadets. Also approved was an occasional licence for the Town Hall for the Royal British Legion for the 29th of October.
HARBOUR, FISHING AND SHIPPING NEWS:
The Tanker, Libra, is in Berkley Sound and the John Cheek came in this morning for an end of season health inspection. The John Clark Ross is still at FIPASS. There are 21 ships in the zone. Average catches for yesterday were 16 tonnes, with the majority being Hoki. Some vessels are catching more than 30 tonnes with the Surimi ship still catching over 100 tonnes a day. The one Ray vessel is catching in access of 7 tonnes a day. Toothfish catches are still good.
SPORT:
The next date in the Darts Calendar is tomorrow. The doubles competition is being held in the Victory Bar starting at 1400. Corina Goss asked Darts Club Chairman, Willie Harvey (WH), whether there has been much interest.
WH: Not as much as we’d like because people don’t want to play in the afternoon.
CG: Is it too late? Can people still enter?
WH: We are still looking for one more person as we only have 33 entries. In the draw, we’ve got John Battersby, Shiela Harvey, Tony Courtney, Derek Smith, Ali Jake, Neil Clifton, Mark Todd and Cathy Jake.
CG: How long do you expect the competition to run?
WH: I’d say it will end at 1630, 1700. The Mr. and Mrs. And Couples will be played in Stanley Arms on Saturday, 06 November. Anyone wanting to enter, please contact Terry Clifton.
NEW LAMBS:
There’s been one black lamb and half black and white lamb born among the AI flocks at Goose Green. The first of the 69 ewes impregnated with embryo transfers have given birth. Farm Manager, Brian Aldridge, says that everything has gone well and the ewes are in a paddock of their own with shelter. The artificially inseminated ewes are expected to start lambing tomorrow. There will be a shearing trial on lambs born from last year’s AI at an open day at Goose Green on Wednesday.
(100X Transcription Service)J. Brock (FINN)
