2015 news of Tristanians visiting or living in the UK, Europe and elsewhere in the world.

2015 News

This page publicises an assortment of information from across the world related to Tristan da Cunha.

Request for friends of Tristan to donate masks

for Old Year's Night in January 2015.

Here is Chris Carnegy trying on one in the UK in June 2015.
You may see it on 31st December on Tristan
as his parcel arrived safely on the island
and Dawn Repetto confirms that
'The lads have been in to pick them up so they will be worn on OYN'. Look out for photos in the new year, and thanks Chris.

Honours for services to Tristan da Cunha presented in London and Stafford

Former Tristan da Cunha Government UK Representative Chris Bates was presented with an MBE by HRH Prince Charles on behalf of HM The Queen 'For services to Tristan da Cunha interests in the UK and worldwide' at Buckingham Palace on Friday 12th June 2015.

The photo right is taken within the palace courtyard looking through the two central palace gates used by royal carriage processions and showing the Victoria Memorial beyond. The photo shows Chris with his newly presented MBE flanked by his wife Julie, son Rob and brother-in-law Dave Carter (right).
(Photo: Chris Bates)

Tristan Association President and Chairman Michael Swales was presented with a BEM 'For services to the community of Tristan da Cunha' in a ceremony at County Hall in Stafford on Thursday 30th April by the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire Mr Ian Dudson CBE CStJ on behalf of HM The Queen.

Michael is shown far right wearing his BEM with other recipients of the BEM and in the centre Ian Dudson
(Photo: Staffordshire Newsletter)

See also 2014 Government News for more on these honours after they were announced in the 2015 New Year Honours List

FOTBOT's Spring Reception featuring a talk

The charity 'Friends of the British Overseas Territories' held a Tristan da Cunha event on May 27th. Tristan's UK Representative Chris Carnegy was the guest speaker as the group gathered in a London wine bar.

Chris looked back to the events of 200 years ago, when Napoleon was preparing to confront Britain and so set-off a series of events that would lead to the garrisoning of Tristan and the founding of the settlement by William Glass. He traced the island's famous neighbourly spirit back to that era, and he talked of the challenges that life in a 'partly-connected world' brings for Tristan today, with fragile infrastructure such as the harbour and the internet connection.

Questions ranged widely - from the RIBA content for sustainable buildings to the use of potatoes instead of money as recently as the 1940s. FOTBOT's membership and guests are clearly fascinated by Tristan; the island's now featured three times in two years as the key focus of their meetings, with previous appearances by former UK Rep Chris Bates and by Lorna Lavarello-Smith.

Photos show Chris, left with FOTBOT committee members, and right speaking during the reception.
Photos and Report from Chris Carnegy