It really has been a year packed with important events in the Islands, to mention a few, the amazing story that is developing around the wreck of the Colossus and the large rig that has been around The Islands for the past months, carrying out construction work.
Just cast you mind back to the first few months of the year when gigs were, as ever, the order of the day. On the 8th of February the Shah gig shed was close to completion, refurbished from its previous rubble state into the monument it is today, situated just above the Turks head. Just three days later the new St. Martins gig, the Gallatea was introduced to Scillonian waters. She was taken out for her sea trials and is generally agreed to be a great gig, built of course by Ralph Bird, and was officially launched on 11 of march.
The Gallatea, of course, raced in the World Championships which concluded dramatically when the Isles of Scilly Women did it yet again and retained the World Championship trophy from their historic win the year 2000. A title they would later add to in the form of the Newquay county championship. I watched both races and I can tell you that the crew were ecstatic about both wins. Their result capped off a weekend that saw the biggest and undisputed mother of all World Championships which will, I have been assured, be bettered again by next year’s event.
Another spring news article was not so cheery. One event, which had the potential to be devastating for Scilly, was the foot and mouth crisis, which took hold of the mainland so vividly. Fortunately, Scilly was spared what would have been an economic bombshell for both farmers and those involved in the tourism industry. Provisions were laid out at the airport and at each harbour on every Island, these precautions remained for several months in an act of extreme caution and care. Steve Watt was keen to reassure visitors to The Islands in his capacity as Tourism officer, he told Scilly News that the whole of Scilly was “Open for business as usual”.
And so into the summer when the Lifeboat had several outings for stricken yachts, a brewery was set up for The Islands and radio Scilly returned for a Colossal two month stint. One of the major sporting events of the summer was the annual Off Island triangle Cricket tournament, which was staged on Tresco. The hosts ended up winning the title for the second year in succession, emulating the St. Agnes achievement of 98/99. I have had the fortune to be at all of those tournaments and have thoroughly enjoyed every one of them and would recommend it as a day out for any of you out there, next years event will be held on St. Martins.
The summer was, of course, capped off with the Camel Rock festival, which out staged its reputation once again. Yes, on the familiar date in the August bank holiday, music could be heard across the islands, reportedly even from the extremities of St. Agnes and St. Martins. Hundreds turned out to watch the extravaganza and the music was of extremely high quality throughout. I won’t go into the details, I?ll put that down to journalistic inebriation, but by all accounts, the charity event was a complete success. memories of the event can be purchased from Outrigger I?m told, in the form of the CD and official video.
For the end part of the year, the most interest generating story has been the massive rig which has lingered around the islands over the past two months putting up markers for Trinity house. The 40 tonne vessel has erected a day mark on Tins Walbert, North of St. Agnes and a new marker on Bartholomew ledge. Steve Douglas who works at the harbour office, told Scilly News that it was a move designed to increase the number of Cruise liners visiting the Islands. Last year a total of 20 cruise ships moored in The Islands, boosting the local economy.
One of the most extensively covered items on the Scillonian agenda was the birth of Jacob Burns five minutes into a Royal Navy helicopter flight to Treliske hospital. His parents, Rick and Nicki told us that they found the national and international press interest bewildering but the are all back on St. Agnes now with their daughter Josie and the new arrival, enjoying family life there.
Overall, this year has been an exciting one from the perspective of the journalist. A wide variety of stories have presented themselves over the past twelve months ranging from Sports to Education, from Community to Ornithology. There have also been several exciting stories that we will undoubtedly generate further interest in the new year. You will, as ever, hear it here first as the stories break.