Tristan da Cunha Family News 2010

Obituary for Douglas Green

We regret to announce the sudden death of Douglas Haig Green on 7th December 2010 aged 89. Douglas was the eldest son of John and Sophia Green and was born on 25th September 1921.

A very kind and generous person, Douglas was well respected by all who knew him. Douglas loved his family and his Tristan home. He knew the island like the back of his hand and was able to predict the weather days ahead. He could turn his hand to anything and was particularly good at carpentry, making model longboats and a traditional Tristan house for a friend. At home he was always pottering around the house or in his shed fixing something. Douglas was a very hard worker and it was a regular thing to see him working his patches or tending his animals. He knew who all the animals belonged to and the markings for each family by heart. As a very accomplished coxswain he made many trips to Nightingale in his longboat Union Castle or Raffee, and had a deep understanding of the sea.

Douglas always saw the best in life and never had a bad word to say about anyone. Six years ago he had to have his leg amputated which must have been difficult for a man who had such an active life and who loved working on the land. This however did not faze him and he continued with the same courage and determination he showed throughout his life. Although he had many knocks, he always got back up and always had a smile, never losing his sense of humour. He would recite from his vast knowledge the many exciting experiences he had of the olden days before and after the volcanic eruption, and his time in England during the evacuation. One of his talents was his ability to play cards, one of the many things he taught his grandchildren.

Douglas lived a life of courage, compassion, hard work and humility. He was an example to all, a family man who was there for anyone he could help and he will be sorely missed by all of those who knew him and think of him daily. He is survived by his loving wife Frances, son Timothy, daughters Rosalie and Sue and grandchildren Matthew, Dion, Trish, Gemma and two younger brothers Harold and Dennis.

Obituary for Leonard Glass

We regret to announce the death of John Herbert ‘Leonard’ Glass on 6th November 2010, aged 76. Leonard was born on 14th July 1934, the second eldest child of Herbert & Rachel Glass. He is survived by his wife Mary and his brother Alex.

Leonard was a keen worker who was always there to lend a hand. At dances and parties he often played the accordion and was known to be an excellent dancer. Being so tall, he was widely known as ‘Lofty’.

As he was so well regarded, Leonard was chosen to be one of the youngest members of the Resettlement Survey Party of six which returned to Tristan on 8th September 1962 following the volcanic eruption and evacuation to the UK in October 1961. It was this team who repaired houses and boats, planted potatoes and cared for any surviving livestock to prepare the way for the return of other Islanders in 1963.

Although Leonard and Mary did not have children of their own, Mariah Leitner (nee Green), and her brother Andrew Green (children of Leonard's sister-in-law) thought of Leonard as a father figure, after the untimely death of their own father Patrick in 1984, when they were both very young.

Leonard was a popular, pleasant and caring person who was always smiling. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him, but he leaves behind many happy and treasured memories.

Mary and family would like to thank all those who have sent kind messages and given support at this sad and difficult time.