St Helena goes to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

St Helena Commonwealth Games Team

Getting Ready for Departure

It’s a warm sunny (winter) day here.  I have just returned from the wharf where the usual send-off of the RMS passengers has taken place. 

Leaving the island today are the St Helena Commonwealth Games Team, representing the Island in the upcoming Glasgow Games.  Taking place between 23 July and 3 August, this international multi-sport event held every four years involves athletes from the entire Commonwealth of Nations.

Madolyn Andrews, Chelsea Benjamin, Jordie Andrews, Lee Yon, Patrick Young and Ben Dillon today begin their long journey to the Games, where they will be joined by remaining  team members Ryan Benjamin, Duane March, Vernon Smeed and Simon Henry.  Accompanying the team to the Games is Chef de Mission Pamela Young, and Nick Stevens who will be responsible for managing the team in Glasgow.

St Helena will be participating in three events, Badminton, Shooting and Swimming. Badminton competitors are Lee, Ryan, Duane and Vernon, Shooters are Madolyn, Cheslea, Jordie, Patrick and Simon, while Ben is competing in Swimming.

---

When the ship leaves there is inevitably a large crowd of folk seeing off relatives and loved ones.  Even tourists, who on this occasion have only spent four days here, get a fond farewell from people they have made friends with during their visit. 

The tourists are coming on each ship in a steady trickle, many with the quest of seeing St Helena before the airport opens and perhaps changes the pace of life here forever.  All are upbeat with tales of adventures on single track roads, historic discoveries and the overwhelming friendliness of the place.  As many of the tourists eat at 2onMain, we get to meet many of them and hear their stories.  We have had cyclists, star gazers, walkers, fish fanatics, divers and yachtties, photographers, ancestor hunters and bird watchers…………….and that is with a long expensive voyage on the ship. 

I know that once the air access routes are confirmed we will see many more tourists here.

Gerda Le Grange and Family enjoyed four days here and cant wait to come back!

Fond Farewell!

Janet and Cathy who have hosted three Travel companies' visit here: Eric Brown of Halcyon Travel, Max Johnson of Great Canadian Travel and Clive Stacey of Discover the World