Tristan islander Neil Swain undertook agricultural studies in England at Harper Adams University, Shropshire, during 2016.

Neil Swain's UK Trip 2016
Tristan islander Neil Swain arrived in England on 3rd April
- see below for photos and reports of his trip
principally focused on study at Harper Adams University in Shropshire.

Neil departs UK for Cape Town

Neil Swain departed England from London's Heathrow Airport on Saturday 20th August bound for Cape Town and the sea journey home aboard SA Agulhas II in early September.

The photo right,
from Tristan Government UK Representative Chris Carnegy, shows Neil holding a selection of the dozen certificates
he's gained during months of study
at Harper Adams alongside Chris
prior to boarding his plane.

Reunion after 40 years

One of Neil's last visitors during his time at
Harper Adams University was Gavin Jack
who served as the Agricultural Officer
on Tristan da Cunha 1972-1976.
Neil came to work with Gavin
when he left school in 1974.
Gavin now lives in Australia
and was visiting his sister in the UK,
so it was a rare opportunity
to catch up with a Tristan Islander.

The photo from Gavin shows Neil and Gavin at
Harper Adams University on Sunday 14th August.

Gavin added 'Some of the happiest days of my life were spent on Tristan and while I left Tristan 40 years ago Tristan never leaves me!

'Our meeting was just absolutely wonderful.It was like we had never been apart in all those years.We chatted of old times and,of course,about farming on Tristan and it is good to know that Neil has had an interesting time at Harper Adams.He has found some useful ideas to try back on Tristan.It will not be long before there will be strawberries growing in Tristan gardens!

We rounded off our few hours together with lunch at an English Village pub.The memory of our meeting will always be cherished.'

Staff impressed as Neil Swain has travelled
6000 miles to see Tristan Lobster
on sale in Selfridges prestigious Food Hall

Report and photo from Chris Carnegy

On a visit to London on 22nd June,
Neil popped into Selfridges Food Hall.
The staff at the seafish counter
looked impressed that a genuine Tristanian
had come to see their lobster display!

Photo of Neil with a pack of Tristan Lobster
with the seafish display and staff member behind.

Visit of Tristan Administrator Alex Mitham on 25th May
Alex went to visit Neil at Harper Adams University on the 25th May to see how the training was progressing and met David Llewellyn, Vice Chancellor to thank him for his support to Tristan da Cunha, and also discuss the possibility of students from Harper Adams studying and working on the Island.

While he was at the university he also met Andy Jones, Director of Learning and Teaching and Ian Pryce, Short Course and Conference Coordinator who have been arranging Neil’s day to day work. The photo right shows, left to right, Andy Jones, Neil and Ian Pryce.

It was and interesting and rewarding visit and Alex was shown around the very impressive campus. The capacity and capabilities of the university are extraordinary and Alex is sure it would be able to offer other Tristanians many opportunities.
Neil Swain meets HRH The Princess Royal
Photos and Report and Photos from Harper Adams University Communications manager Jaclyn Green
Neil Swain, presently studying at the university,
met HRH The Princess Royal at Harper Adams University during her visit on 25th April 2016,
at the official opening on the Dairy Crest Innovation Centre on the campus.
The Princess, who is Chancellor of the university, chatted to Neil for a few minutes after touring the new building.

Photos of Neil Swain being greeted by and talking to HRH during the visit.
HRH's father, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, visited Tristan da Cunha in January 1957, two years before Neil was born. He was the last royal visitor to Tristan da Cunha, following on from the first 1867 visit of Prince Alfred, the first Duke of Edinburgh and second son on Queen Victoria, after whom the Tristan Settlement of Edinburgh is named.

Neil Swain's UK Trip - The first month
Islander Neil Swain travelled from Tristan aboard MV Edinburgh, departing on 8th March for Cape Town.
He flew to London Heathrow where he was met by Tristan Government UK Representative Chris Carnegy later in the month.
Neil journeyed on by train to Shropshire where he will be studying at the Harper Adams University
which is one of the UK's leading agricultural Higher Education establishments.
He will be there for the summer term and expects to travel back to Tristan aboard SA Agulhas II in September
 to use his newly acquired skills in his role helping to lead the Tristan Agricultural Department.

Neil was picked up in Shropshire on Good Friday by Hazel (nee Swain) and her husband Barry Carter, who drove him to their home in Hampshire. They took Neil on various trips to Bristol, Poole and Southampton.

 

On Easter Saturday Hazel and Barry took Neil
to attend the 50th birthday of Hazel's cousin Tracy.

Above Left: Neil with Barry Carter (left) and Hazel's brother Dennis Swain (centre) at the party

Above right: Hazel Swain, Hazel's cousins Paula Swain and Tracy Tough (nee Swain), Dee Adams, Neil Swain.
Back row; Dennis Swain, Mark Adams

Dee and Mark are Tracy's children.

Left: Neil in Poole

Neil in Southampton on 2nd April and in London the following day after the Annual Gathering party.

Hazel and Barry brought Neil
to the Tristan da Cunha Association Annual Gathering
in Southampton on 2nd April
where Neil was guest of honour.

Ann Ashworth's photos above show:
Left: Neil with islander Frank Rogers at lunch;
Right: With Hazel during the dance.

Hazel's photo left shows the Pillow Dance
procession at the dance: left to right -
Gwynneth Cooper, Neil Swain, Anna Hicks and Barry Carter.

We will publish more photos and a report
of the successful Annual Gathering soon.

On Sunday 3rd April
Chris Carnegy accompanied Neil to London
where he stayed overnight
before returning to Shropshire
for the Summer Term
at Harper Adams University.


Chris' photo left shows Neil
on the top deck of a London bus
as he found his way
around the capital that day.