Four Years on St Helena
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It was an amazing sight as we approached Jamestown’s landing stage quay. It was now approaching 7.00 p.m., by which time it was fairly dark on the island. [Sunset in the region only varies by about an hour between summer and winter].
I suppose, having suffered the vagaries of getting from land to ship on Ascension, getting ashore on St Helena was relatively easy. Just time your step from the RMS to the small boat, then from the small boat to the steps of the quay, in time with the rise and fall of the tide, and you’re OK - though many wet feet, including some very gubernatorial ones, will testify to not everyone getting it right!
There were hundreds of people down to meet the ship (Ship Day was, and still is, a big day in the life of the St Helenians), and the whole place seemed to be festooned with a variety of coloured lights. It really was like some Caribbean scene from a James Bond movie, with a real festival atmosphere about it. Many families were down to greet relatives returning from a year or more's work on the Falklands or on Ascension; many were there to see what the new brigade of ex-Pats looked like; and many of the younger generation were there to see what the "New Shirts" were like - the new (or returning) talent for the young (ladies especially) to eye and chase after!
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About the Book
This book is a combination of a travelogue, a brief history of the island and a truncated autobiography of that part of the author's life. With over one hundred colour photographs, the book will bring back many happy memories to exiled Saints, to former ex-Pat "experts", and to those who have simply visited the island via the RMS St Helena or some passing cruise ship.
About the Author
Unlike most authors of books on St Helena, Lynas Murdoch spent four years living and working on this remote island in the south Atlantic. As well as successfully carrying out his Advisory Teacher role in setting up the Business Studies Department of the then new Prince Andrew School, and training local staff, he and his family became involved in the everyday life of the islanders - from going on regular weekend fishing trips, to being part of a team in a Monday skittles league, and to enjoying Friday evenings socialising with a diverse group of locals and ex-Pats, etc, etc.