Report on the 2016 Association Annual Gathering in Southampton, where members socialised, watched films, and visited stalls. Drs Pam and Iain Levack gave a talk on their work at Camogli Hospital on Tristan.

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2016 Annual Gathering

The Tristan da Cunha Association returned to the Southampton Holiday Inn for the tenth year running for its Annual Gathering on Saturday 2nd April 2016.
Photos from Ann Ashworth and Mike Faulds
Morning Programme
Peter Millington organised a film show in the Hamble Room which featured four special films:
  • Return to Gough: The Forgotten Expedition about the 1955/56 Gough Island scientific Survey;
  • 37⁰4 S (a short tale of youth set on Tristan with young Tristan actors. Winner of an award at the Cannes Film Festival.);
  • Surprise Surprise! (an extract from Cilla Black's ITV programme when Adam Swain was reunited with his mother Maud & sister Pat from Tristan);
  • The Tristan da Cunha Project, film by David Mackenzie.

Beau Rowlands, John Payne, Ken and Jennifer Gardner
being welcomed at reception by John Cooper

Ken and Fran Rogers on Jim Kerr's Association Stall

Speaker Pam Levack with Susan Patterson and Glenda Buck.

Pat Patterson with Jim Kerr

Peter and Mary Knee and Alan ashworth at the raffle stall with Gerald and Glenda Buck serving

Ian Mathieson on his book stall serving Sandra Kornet with Lee Bryant, Tom Jacobs and Simon Levell looking on.

Jennifer Gardner on the raffle stall which raised a grand total of £295 for Association funds. All the prizes were generously donated by members.

Richard and Pamela Hewitt looking at a Tristan jumper for sale on the stall. A range of Tristan items were generously donated for the stall and auction.

Lunch in the hotel restaurant

Corner table with Hazel and Barry Carter,
Jim Kerr, Anna Hicks, Frank Rogers,
and our special guest Neil Swain
who was in England
to study at the Harper Adams University
- see
Neil Swain UK Trip 2016

Afternoon Events
Below- standing room only at the Annual General Meeting

During the AGM we learned that Vice-Chair Lorna Lavarello-Smith
is preparing to move to South Africa to take up a new post as Assistant Priest in the Parish of St Thomas in Rondebosch
in the Diocese of Cape Town, and will live in the Southern Suburb of Rondebosch.
Therefore Lorna has resigned from the Association Committee and in her place John Cooper was elected Vice-Chair.
Lorna has made a huge contribution to the Association, as a founder committee member
and serving for several years as Chair.
We will publish more on her contribution in the August Newsletter
and we will miss her as the principal islander active in the Association.

Simon Levell launched his book
'Cycling Across the South Atlantic:
An Oceanic Odyssey with a Bicycle'
which has recently been published
by George Mann Publications.

Tristan Government UK Representative
Chris Carnegy presented
the Tristan Association
with a 200th Anniversary plaque
from the island community recognising
'the support and generosity the Association
has provided for many years'.

The photo left shows President and Chairman Michael Swales
receiving the plaque, the details of which are shown below.

 
 
Drs Pam and Iain Levack
 
The talk was given by Dr Pam Levack, supported by her husband Iain. Pam and Ian have completed two contracts at Camogli Hospital on Tristan and there will be a full report on Pam's excellent talk in the August Newsletter.
Members donated a large collection of Tristan artefacts which were sold on a stall in the morning or in the afternoon auction, all in aid of the Tristan Education Trust Fund . Once Gift Aid is claimed, the total raised will exceed £1000. Barry and Sarah Cash (above) were successful in bidding for this rare Tristan Administrator's Flag.
The Evening Dinner Dance;
Above: Meeting for a drink before dinner
Below: The band with Peter Millington on the accordion and fiddlers Pam Levack and Mike Faulds who played for traditional Tristan dances including the Pillow Dance, right.
More photos of the Pillow Dance as it meandered
around the dining tables, above and left.

Below: Neil Swain on the dance floor
with Debbie Elsmore (left)
and Hazel Carter (right).