Tristan da Cunha Government News Abroad

Chief Islander in Lincolnshire

Report and photos from Chris Bates

Chief Islander Ian Lavarello continued his UK tour when he travelled by train from Manchester to Barnetby in
Lincolnshire on 27th November, to be welcomed by his hosts for the next four days, Chris and Julie Bates.

Julie and Chris thoroughly enjoyed Ian's visit, as did Barbara Cooke (widow of former Tristan doctor, Dr Peter Cooke) the landlord and customers of Tristan's twin pub, the Elder Tree in Horsington. Ian was shown round the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Fight at RAF Coningsby and visited the National Fishing Heritage Centre at Grimsby. He also got to see some of the beautiful countryside of the Lincolnshire Wolds (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and the coastline around Cleethorpes with its spectacular views of the River Humber, Spurn Point and Yorkshire and the shipping entering and leaving the UK's busiest ports (Grimsby and Immingham). From there he was able to travel on the Trans Pennine Express direct to Manchester Airport on Friday 30th November.

Ian outside the Elder Tree Inn, Horsington, with Tristan flag flying - it's Albatross Bar's twin pub.	Ian at the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in RAF Coningsby with the only UK airworthy Avro Lancaster in the background being serviced by RAF engineers.
Ian and former Tristan da Cunha UK Representative Chris Bates (who lives in Lincolnshire) at the end of their tour of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby with one of the flight's six airworthy Spitfires behind them.	Ian in Tristan's twin pub, the Elder Tree Inn at Horsington, with poster advertising Bushy's Island Ale (brewed with Island Berries from Tristan) with retired Horsington farmer Paul Underwood wearing his Tristan jacket.
Ian joined in the fortnightly games night at Tristan's twin pub (the Elder Tree) with a record score for the pub with three darts = 140; however he was still beaten by Chris Bates with a final arrow into the 17.	Ian with widow of Tristan doctor Dr Peter Cooke, Barbara Cooke, at her home in Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln: on his previous visit, Barbara had called in to BBC Lincolnshire when she heard Ian being interviewed live on air to say she remembered him as a small boy! Barbara's late husband delivered many Tristan babies, including Leon and Warren Glass.
The Chief Islander at the helm -- Ian on his tour of the National Fishing Heritage Centre in Grimsby.	Is it ever this cold on one of Tristan's fishing vessels? Ian on the deck at the National Fishing Heritage Centre with a mock up of conditions endured by trawlermen in the White Sea in the 1950s and 1960s.
Ian and former Tristan UK Representative Chris Bates get a close up of the terrible conditions in which fishermen worked on the Arctic trawlers sailing out of Grimsby.	Ian where ships from the UK's busiest ports (Grimsby, Immingham, Killingholme, Hull, Goole, Gainsborough, Howden, Gunness) enter the North Sea -- at Cleethorpes, where the Buck Beck enters the mighty River Humber.
Ian with what is believed to be the oldest surviving diesel trawler in the UK, the Ross Tiger, moored at the National Fishing Heritage Centre at Grimsby.	A well earned drop of refreshment: Ian in the legendary No. 2 Bar on Cleethorpes Railway station, winner of the Pub of the Year accolade for most years from 2004 onwards.
	Time to get back to business: Ian boarding the Trans-Pennine Express at Cleethorpes to return to Manchester Airport and family in Manchester, for final preparations for the JMC week, an audience with the Prime Minister and dinner with HM The Queen.