Scilly has been hitting the headlines in recent weeks with two St Mary’s residents mentioned in the national press.
Taxi driver Del Thompson is featured in December’s Sea Angler magazine, whilst mother-of-three Selena Thomas has told the story of her experiences with Scilly’s infamous ‘knicker thief’ to Closer.
Del, who drives for Island Taxis, appears in an article entitled ‘Angling Heroes,’ written by fishing expert and University pal Henry Gilbey. Henry writes, ‘Del Thompson has the world of fishing at his feet. He has dozens of miles of pristine fishing right on his doorstep … While you and I have to manoeuvre our way through traffic to get to our fishing marks, order bait well in advance or go without and rub shoulders with other anglers on crowded venues, my mate Del is taking the air and probably watching puffins in one of the world’s most beautiful areas, the Isles of Scilly.’
Henry and Del met at a Cornish casting competition and found that both were studying at Plymouth University. ‘Bearing in mind that Del has had to discover all his inshore fishing for himself - there is no local grapevine to tap into, no local tackle shop to ask for information, and no guidebook that says ?try here? ? he has done well,’ writes Henry. ‘He goes out of his way to help anglers who ask for advice. I couldn’t have made some of my television angling programmes without his help and local knowledge.?
Selena Thomas, 35, was one of up to 20 women who had underwear and sex toys stolen by builder Andy Stephan, and told her story to a recent edition of popular woman’s magazine Closer.
One paragraph reads: ‘‘There can’t be many things more embarrassing than having to identify your vibrator in court,’ says Selena. ‘They held it up and asked me why I knew it was mine. I told them I was sure although I hadn’t put my name on it. The judge piped up: “Very wise, Mrs Thomas.”’’
Selena and ten other women gave evidence against Stephan at Truro Crown Court in July 2005. He was later sentenced to 150 hours of community service for ten counts of theft and ordered to pay ?1,000 in costs. The judge also imposed an ASBO preventing him from visiting the Islands for seven years.