Chief Islander Ian Lavarello's activities between official meetings and events during his visit to Europe 2016.

Chief Islander Ian Lavarello's Tour to Europe 2016

This pages starts with Ian's arrival in London and continues in order of events

Chief Islander arrives in London
for important UK Overseas Territories Events

Chief Islander Ian Lavarello
arrived by train at London's Euston Station on Sunday 30th October from Manchester, where he has been staying with relatives.

He had a busy few days of meetings in London, including The Overseas Territories' Joint Ministerial Council.

See separate page with photos and reports of his London meetings: OTJMC2016

Left: Ian after arriving at Euston Station.

By 5th November, Ian had returned to Manchester

This photo shows him alongside islander Kimberley Green who is presently working in the city.

Former Tristan Government UK Representative Chris Bates and his wife Julie hosted a visit to Lincolnshire on 7th-9th November and Chris has sent these photos of a packed programme.

The photos above show Ian in England's New York and on Broadway!

Photo Right: When Ian visited the Elder Tree Inn, Horsington, landlord, Richard Brown, flew the Tristan flag outside the pub to mark the occasion.

The Elder Tree is to become the first pub in the UK to sell "Island Brew", the unique beer brewed on the Isle of Man by Bushy's Ale of Man, using ingredients from Tristan da Cunha. Island Brew will go on sale in the Elder Tree on Friday2 nd December 2016 and Richard anticipates it will all sell very quickly.

" There's a lot of interest in Tristan in the area and the pub is well supported by the people of Horsington," he says. "This will be a unique opportunity to sample this ale. I understand it's only brewed occasionally, when the berries can be sent the 6,000 miles from Tristan to the Isle of Man, so I don't know whether it will be possible to obtain more in the future. We'll have to see how it goes"
Ian at the Lincolnshire Aviation Centre at East Kirkby Ian at Tattershall Castle

Above: Ian visiting the "Dambusters" 617 Squadron Memorials in Woodhall Spa

Right: Ian alongside a Dalek in the foyer of the unique Kinema in the Woods at Woodhall Spa.>
Ian on BBC Radio Lincolnshire with presenter Melvyn Prior, who'd just been presented with a Tristan woolly penguin. Ian and Chris took part in a lengthy broadcast in the programme "Melvyn in the Morning" Ian was able to explain a lot about the island - its history, economy, electoral system, transport links and infrastructure.
Ian on the platform at Lincoln Central Station about to board the train to Manchester Airport which will be the first leg of his journey to Gdansk in Poland.
Ian at Lincoln Castle  

Ian visited Poland on 11th and 12th November 2016 to visit the new Ovenstone's Fishing Vessel Geo-Searcher which was being re-fitted in a Gdansk Shipyard

See Geo-Searcher for more.

He is seen with Tristan Government Representative
Chris Carnegy as they tested the new crane in the photo left.

Ian travelled to Germany to visit islander Maria Leitner and her family.

Photos show Ian with Maria's children Amelia and Liam, above in Wasserburg and right outside their Munich home beneath the Tristan flag.

Chief Islander visits Association Chairman

Former Tristan Government UK Representative Chris Bates took Chief Islander Ian Lavarello to Staffordshire on 22nd November 2016 to meet Tristan Association President and Chairman Michael Swales at his Alton home.

Chris' photo left shows Ian and Michael in the grounds.

Chief Islander with Chris Carnegy in the West of England

On Monday November 28th Chris and Ian met cruise industry expert Sue Blanchard in Bristol. Sue worked in the travel industry for many years, recently promoting the Welsh port of Milford Haven to cruise lines. Now retired, she's taken-up the cause of Tristan da Cunha and supplies contacts and information to help the island's Head of Tourism Dawn Repetto to encourage more cruise ship calls. Dawn gave Ian a Tristan flag to present to Sue as a mark of gratitude.

Above: Ian with Sue Blanchard in Bristol

Right: Visit to historic Haunch of Venison Inn, Salisbury. The ancient pub is famous for a mummified severed hand that was found in an alcove. Legend has it that the hand was cut off in a gambling dispute.

High Flying Chief Islander

During an air themed day around Salisbury on Tuesday 29th November, Ian and Chris flew from Old Sarum airfield down to the Isle of Wight. Ian took the controls over the New Forest, and got a aerial view of the Needles, ships in the Solent, and Lymington yacht haven.

The aircraft (left and below) is a Eurostar microlight which Chris co-owns
Left: At the Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop