40th Anniversary Annual Gathering in 2027
Pushing the boat out for the TDCA 40th Anniversary Annual Gathering in 2027
Full Saturday Programme and Anniversary Cruise on Sunday afternoon
We want to make the anniversary gathering special and can now announce initial plans and advanced booking arrangements for TDCA members and their guests to secure places and book hotel rooms.
The event will be held on the weekend of 9th-11th April, commemorating the inaugural meeting of the TDCA at the Royal Geographical Society on 15th April 1987. It will be significant to have several members present on that day with us in 2027.
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Accommodation
The voco hotel is booked, and a restricted number of rooms can be reserved now at B&B prices of £129 Double and £119 Single with parking £10 for overnight guests. Parking is free for Saturday day attendees. To get these prices please phone reception between 9am and 5pm on 02380 388142 asking for the TDCA AG rates. The hotel may have competitive rates available online and there are other hotels nearby.
Event Booking for Members and their guests
Please book online on: https://www.tristandc.com/assoc/orderform.php
Saturday day event with lunch and refreshments £38 Dinner Dance £32
Sunday 3-hour cruise with sandwich lunch £30
Islanders living overseas get a subsidised rate of £20 for the day and any resident islanders visiting the UK will be free.
Space in the Hampshire Suite is limited, and we expect to be full for the Saturday event. Please book early to avoid disappointment.
Provisional Programme
Friday 9th April
3pm Trustee Meeting in the Hampshire Suite
Dinner: People can make their own arrangements for Friday evening with many likely to opt for dinner at the Atlantic Gate hotel restaurant. Tables need to be booked in advance with reception, and a range of table sizes facilitates groups getting together to share tables.
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Saturday 10th April: Main Annual Gathering in the Hampshire SuiteRefreshments including hot drinks are available 9am – 5pm in the foyer. 9.30am Stalls and displays open featuring Book, Stamp and Souvenir Stalls, Display of Auction items, Raffle Donations of books, other artefacts and prizes for the raffle are welcomed. 10.30 am Annual General Meeting including recent news from Tristan and short videos. After a break, a presentation linked to the afternoon film. 12.30 pm 2 course buffet lunch in the Atlantic Gate Restaurant. 2pm Showing of the film Tristan Forever 3.30pm After a break the programme will include collecting raffle prizes and an Auction. |
For more about Tristan Forever see: https://www.tristandc.com/news-2026-01-29-TristanForever.php
6pm Hampshire Suite Bar open for an inaugural Live Portal with Tristan da Cunha
This will link TDCA members with a gathering in the Albatross Bar on Tristan, allowing us to speak to our island friends that we exist to support.
7pm Two course buffet dinner followed by:
A toast to Tristan islanders
The Pillow Dance to our celebrated live band
Disco by our own DJ Barry Carter until 11pm
For images of past Annual Gatherings see: https://www.tristandc.com/2026agm.php
View from a voco hotel bedroom showing Southampton Water
with Town Quay visible directly behind the ornamte white domed building.
Sunday 11th April Cruise
We have booked the Blue Funnel company’s boat Ocean Scene to provide a bespoke three-hour cruise from Southampton to The Solent to view giving views of the Calshot area and quays used by significant ships used during the 1961-1963 period to transport islanders to and from the UK. We aim to provide a special occasion which will focus on Tristan’s special links with Southampton and celebrate 40 years of the TDCA supporting the Tristan da Cunha community. We believe the event will be of interest to the media and we hope to welcome special guests to take part in the commentary. Altogether we hope it will be a wonderful Sunday afternoon cruise all will enjoy.
The cruise will start from Town Quay, which is an easy flat walk from the voco hotel, so that overnight guests can leave their cars in the hotel car park at no extra charge. Others can use a range of nearby car parks. Town Quay is the terminal for the Red Jet high-speed ferry service to West Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
Departure will be promptly at 12 noon, and ticket holders should be gathered at the quay by 11.30am. Return to Town Quay at 3pm.
Once payment is made online tickets and updates will be sent by email. We cannot accommodate walk-ins for AG events as we need to pre-order food.
As well as the provided sandwich platter, other refreshments, including a licensed bar, are also available for purchase on board.