Tristan da Cunha Annual Gathering 2026
The 2026 Tristan da Cunha Annual Gathering took place on the 7th March at the voco hotel, Southampton - our usual Holiday Inn, refurbished and renamed.
Early arrivers met for drinks and dinner on the Friday evening, ready for the main event, and the familiar stalls were laid out on Saturday morning - books, souvenirs and the raffle. Browsing the stalls was also an opportunity to catch up with old friends and to make new friends.
Meeting People
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| Gerald Buck with Anna Hicks and Neil Golding. Photo: Maggie Millington | Paula Swain, and Jacob & Tracy Tough. Photo: Maggie Millington |
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| Clive Siddall and Gerald Buck Photo: Alan Ashworth | David Wearing, Ann Ashworth and Jessica Hottinger Photo: Alan Ashworth |
The SHATPS philatelists: Richard Hewitt, Lee Bryant, Austin Meares, Neil Robson ,Mike Faulds, Clive Siddall & Gerald Buck Photo: Mike Faulds
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| Elizabeth & Alan Waters with Austin Meares. Photo: Mike Faulds | Isolde Muller, Antje Steinfurth and Penny Granger at the souvenir stall. Photo: Mike Faulds |
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| Roger Price with Corinne Aldred & Alexandra McGoran of Cefas, and Chris Carnegy. Photo: Mike Faulds | Hazel Carter, Paul & Carolyn Gentle and Barry Cooper. Photo: Mike Faulds |
The Groen/Green Family
This year there was an extra stall. Brothers Trevor and Chris Groen brought an interesting display of material from their family archive, that had been amassed by their late father. These included a large, framed charcoal and chalk portrait of Peter Green - originally Pieter Groen, the Tristan settler from Katwijk aan Zee, Netherlands. The brothers told us that the back of the frame is packed with newspapers from the 1890s. It may therefore be the original picture on which some published portraits were based. The picture is in need of preservation because it has no protective glass and shows signs of water damage. The brothers have kindly entrusted the portrait to the Association for conservation and eventual safe carriage to the island for display in the museum.
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| Trevor Groen with Gwyneth Cooper. Photo: Peter Millington |
Trevor & Chris Groen with the portrait of Peter Green. Photo: Mike Faulds |
The Groens also brought a family tree drawn out on a lengthy scroll, nearly half of which covers the Tristan da Cunha branch of the family up to the early 1970s, descendants of Peter Groen/Peter Green.
This video illustrates the impressive length of the Groen/Green family tree scroll. Video: Peter Millington
As it happened, the Dutch author Sandra Kornet-van Duyvenboden was at the gathering. She has published books about Peter Green and the links between Katwijk and Tristan, so she and the brothers had some very interesting discussions.
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| Sandra Kornet-van Duyvenboden with the chalk and charcoal drawing of Peter Green. | The Groen/Green family display raised a lot of interest. Photos: Peter Millington |
Despite having retained the Dutch spelling of their surname, the Groen brothers are in fact English and live in the Southampton area. We may therefore see them again at future Gatherings.
Slideshow and Pictures
While people were socialising and milling around, a slideshow was projected of a large set of photographs taken on Tristan in 1985/86 by Bob Kauders, who recently passed away. We also had Tristan artwork on display - a set of lithographic prints by Roland Svensson, and four framed watercolours by the early 19th century artist Charles Hamilton Smith.
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| One of Roland Svensson's Tristan lithograph prints. Photo: Peter Millington | One of the framed Hamilton-Smith Tristan watercolours. Photo: Peter Millington |
Association Business
The business of the Association's formal Annual General Meeting was quickly dealt with before we moved on to the Tristan films. One significant bit of news was that thanks to a generous bequest left by the late Sylvia Hanlon, the Association's charitable fund now stands at over £260,000. This is more than twice the target amount set when the Tristan Education Trust Fund was first established. We are now actively seeking project proposals from the island to benefit St Mary's School.
Jim Kerr presenting his Secretary's reports during the AGM section of the Gathering. The background photograph is one taken on Tristan in 1985/86 by the late Bob Kauders. Photo: Peter Millington
The AGM was followed by the screening of two films. "Asthma Island" was a 2008 documentary made by the BBC about Dr Noe Zamel's investigations into the genetic causes of asthma on Tristan. Tristan's population has one of the highest incidences of the condition in the world. The second movie was "37°4 S", a short film shot on Tristan in 2013 and co-produced by Loran Bonnardot, who also stars in the docufiction film "Tristan Forever" recently premiered at the Berlin Film Festival.
Association trustees. L-R back: Richard Grundy, Jim Kerr, Hazel Carter, Anna Hicks, Barry Carter, Megan Elsemore, Clive Siddall, Colette Halter-Pernet, John Cooper; Front: Peter Millington & Mike Faulds. Photo: Neil Golding
Our Keynote Speaker
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After lunch, the keynote talk was given by Tristan's UK Representative, Chris Carnegy. Chris acquired the Tristan bug when he visited for the BBC to report on the 50th anniversary of the 1961 volcanic eruption. He subsequently took over the UK Representative role from Chris Bates in 2015. The job involves many meetings, in Westminster and elsewhere, together with hands-on delivery of support for Tristanians who visit the UK. Chris described some highlights of his tenure, and showed three video interviews he'd recorded on the island with people who may influence Tristan's future: new councillors Janine Lavarello and Simon Glass; and James Wallace, MD of the new lobster concessionaires Fortuna. Janine described how Tristan's next generation is committed to conservation. Simon outlined the impact of the arrival of fast internet on the island. And James confirmed that Fortuna's cargo vessel will be able to carry about 30 additional passengers per voyage, which should mean more opportunities for tourist visitors. The Northern Ranger is currently being refitted in Newfoundland and is due to enter service in 2027. |
| Left: Chris Carnegy taking questions after his talk. |
Raffle & Auction
The afternoon ended with the collection of raffle prizes drawn during the coffee break, and an auction in aid of the Association's charitable funds.
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| Tessa Smith at the raffle stall Photo: Alan Ashworth | Torbjörn & Pia Svensson and Susanne Spjuth at the raffle table. Photo: Mike Faulds |
The Dinner Dance
A good many of the Gathering attendees stayed on for the dinner dance in the evening. This was further opportunity to socialise and to throw a few shapes on the dancefloor. It is now traditional, as on Tristan, for everyone to do the Pillow Dance before the disco strikes up.
Back (L-R): Hazel Carter, Megan Elsemore, Kora Lavarello Front: Linda Lavarello & Maggie Millington. Photo: Peter Millington
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| The traditional Pillow Dance, although for some reason the guys on the left have never taken part in it! Photos: Alan Ashworth | |
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| Good conversation at the dinner. Photo: Hazel Carter | Barry Carter working the decks for the disco. Photo: Hazel Carter |
Next Annual Gathering
The 2027 TdCA Annual Gathering, which will be our 40th Gathering, will held on Saturday 10th April. This will be two weeks after Easter.