BBC Films feature The Story of Asthma Island

On Tuesday 9th December 2009 the BBC first broadcast two films featuring Tristan da Cunha.
In the first one hour Horizon programme titled 'Allergy Planet' shown at 9pm on BBC2, research into asthma on Tristan da Cunha was featured alongside other allergies across the world.

In the second, 30 minute programme, broadcast at 10pm on BBC4, and titled The Story of Asthma Island, the Tristan content from the main Horizon film was shown and extended. The film was made by a Horizon team in May 2008. The team travelled out on MV Edinburgh, expecting to spend a week on the island, but, due to typical winter weather, were 'stranded' for three weeks from 1st - 21st May, and so extended their filming to allow the second specialist Tristan programme to be made, though all the Tristan Horizon footage is repeated and extended. The Horizon team, including Rebecca Harrison was accompanied by the Asthma expert Dr Noe Zamel from University of Toronto, Canada.

The progammes have been well received, and a separate page with a detailed report and review of the content is being prepared for inclusion in the February 2009 Tristan da Cunha Newsletter in association with Dr Zamel, the BBC and the Tristan Government. A separate website page will also highlight a summary of the report and review.

The BBC 4 programme 'the Story of Asthma Island was available to download via the BBC iPlayer for only 7 days, so we have removed the link formerly on this page.

There is a report about the programme from Rebecca Henderson on the BBC website : http://news.bbc.co.uk

Isle of Man - Tristan da Cunha Bus Service Introduced

Stalwart Tristan da Cunha Association member Ken Rogers, became fascinated by the Tristan community as a boy in the Southampton area during the islanders' sojourn during their volcanic exile. He and his wife Fran have attended all the recent residential Tristan Association Annual Gatherings and have already booked for the April 2008 Southampton event.

Ken works on the Manx buses and arranged this picture of himself by the spoof Douglas - Tristan da Cunha service as it prepares to depart on 25th October 2007!
Thanks Ken

The Flore Commonwealth Flag Project and Fellowship Scheme
The Tristan da Cunha flag flies proudly with others of the Commonwealth and British Overseas Territories outside the Millennium Hall in Flore, Northamptonshire. This photograph from Johnnie Amos was taken in November 2006. This project is understood to be unique to Flore, since the Commonwealth Institute, which used to fly all these flags in London's South Kensington closed in 1996.

Flore also runs a Fellowship Scheme to provide education or training for young people from the Commonwealth or British Overseas Territories.

Check out their website on www.commonwealthflagproject.org