Audacious Capture of Tristan da Cunha's Administrator and Wife
Report from Philip Kendall and others. Photos by Julia Gunther unless otherwise credited
Old Year's Night 2025/26 on Tristan was a wonderful affair! The Okalolies misbehaved appropriately by kidnapping Administrator Philip Kendall and his wife Louise from the Residency and taking them up to the Chief Islander's house in the passenger box which had been fitted to the island's telehandler. Once there, they proceeded to kidnap Dilys Green and attempted to kidnap Ian Lavarello, who somehow managed to evade capture! Rather than being taken out to a ship and ejected from the island, they were then taken on a voyage through the village and delivered in style to the Residency for the Admin's evening reception.
Philip and Louise Kendall kidnapped and confined in the passenger box.
Preparation
For those unfamiliar with the custom, the Okalolies are young men of the island dressed up in scary masks and costumes, who on the 31st of December go round the village frightening and chasing women and children, and as often as not, squirting them with water. Receptions are held for the whole island in the evening, and at midnight anyone can have a go at ringing the fishing dong behind Prince Philip Hall to welcome in the New Year.
Okalolies posing with Anita and Hope Repetto.
A lot of thought goes into Old Year's Night although the Okalolies take care to keep their plans secret. However, one of the first things was done way back in August, when all the masks were washed. The masks are nowadays made of rubber or plastic and can get very sweaty in the summer heat of Old Year's Night. Kelly Green spent an afternoon refreshing the masks ready for the next celebration.
The strange sight of washed masks drying upside down on a line back in August. Photo: Kelly Green
Marauding through the Settlement
The Okalolies this year got themselves ready at the Galliford Try camp. The first people they encountered as they set out were the contractors repairing the roads, who didn't quite know what to make of them. They then took a zig-zag route round the settlement visiting houses to find people they could scare, in particular women and children.
The road contractors didn't know what to make of the Okalolies.
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| Out and about in the settlement. | |
Some of the younger children were genuinely scared when the Okalolies appeared outside their windows, and reassurance from their parents and the Okololies unmasking to reveal their true identities did not always help. Usually though, everything ended amicably.
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| Alfie Rogers need not look so worried. No one is going to let them in! | Makayla Swain looks scared, but her father Julian keeps her safe. | Jake Swain tries hiding behind a cushion - but it won't work! |
Rita Repetto watches the Okololies pose with Emily Swain.
Some houses were empty - or least gave the impression that no one was at home - while the occupants of others made sure that all the doors were locked and windows shut. The Okalolies see this as a challenge and look for sneaky ways to get in, but a few women confidently stood by their windows, drinks in hand to taunt them.
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| No one seem so be at home... | ...but we'll find a way in. | That's what you think! |
The factory engineer's and expatriate workers' houses were also included in the circuit.
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| The engineer's partner Anoushka has done been got!. | Hospitality from the factory's Indonesian technicians. |
Plot to Kidnap Tristan's Leaders
Having finished their main tour of the settlement and after a rest in Jill Repetto's garden, the Okalolies rigged up a rather special form of transport. They purloined the island's JCB telehandler, fixed the shipping passenger box to its forks and decorated it with a Tristan flag and flowers. They then piled on and drove through the 'central business district' to side gate of the Residency. In a snatch and grab operation they proceeded to kidnap the Administrator and his wife who, fitted with life vests and a packed suitcase were deposited in the box to be shipped off the island. However, they were not to be the only captives.
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| Invading the Residency garden and snaring Louise Kendall with a life belt at the front door. Meanwhile, women and children hiding in the Residency and helping to prepare food look on with concerned amusement. | ||
Philip and Louise Kendall under close guard on their way up the road.
The Okalolies first transhipped them to the Chief Islander's home, where they were temporarily released into the house's yard. Despite his impending doom, Chief Islander Ian Lavarello greeted the Okalolies cordially and provided refreshments. However, he cunningly escaped himself, leaving his partner Dilys to the mercies of the intruders. She too was kidnapped and bundled along with Philip and Louise into the box on the telehandler.
Ian Lavarello greets the Okololies.
The Okalolies taking a breather with their captives in the Chief Islander's yard. Photo: Philip Kendall
The final leg of their 'voyage' was a second interesting drive back through the village to the Residency, where they were disembarked to join the assembled population for the Old Year's Night reception. However, Philip had to pay a ransom of beer and whisky before being released to attend his own reception, uncharacteristically 15 mins late!
Edging past the longboats while approaching the side gate of the Residency.
Philip, Louise and Dilys (and their luggage) pose with the Okalolies.
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| The Okalolies file through the Residency to rest and refresh themselves incognito at the back. | |
Administrator's Old Year's Night Reception
The reception is a popular social occasion but is also when the Admin gives a speech reviewing the past year's achievements, gives his thoughts on the year ahead, and finally proposes a toast to the New Year.
Philip Kendall giving his speech. Photo: Louise Kendall
Philip Kendall's Speech
Dear Buddys, Tiddys, and Okalolies,
I cannot believe that 2025 has come to an end already! What a year it has been. Tonight, as we gather together to welcome the new year, let us take a moment to reflect on all that we have achieved, because truly, we have accomplished so much, side by side, as a community.
- We held a successful election, welcoming a new Chief Islander, Ian and Island Council.
- The Council and the Fisheries Department negotiated a new lobster concession, securing our island's future for the next 15 years.
- With thanks to Richard and his team, alongside E&P, we started to upgrade our electrical system, starting with the hospital, the swimming pool and the supermarket, with solar panels now shining proudly on the Admin building.
- With thanks to Jorrie and his team, alongside PWD, work on the roads has begun.
- We enjoyed not one, but two visits from the Agulhas II, reminding us that although we are remote, with a bit of effort we can be reached.
- And yes, thanks to Paul, Lorraine and the Finance Team, we now have credit card machines, enabling us to take even more money from those who visit us, proof that even on our island, progress swipes forward!
These are just a few examples of the big things we achieved together this year, and I thank each and every one of you for your part in this.
But Old Year's Night is not just about looking back - it's also about looking ahead. And 2026 promises to be another year of growth, change, and challenge.
- We will see further investment in infrastructure, building on the momentum we've already created.
- But at the same time, like the rest of the world we must face economic challenges, as we tackle the budget deficit. This is caused in part by our ageing population, but also by issues we can and must fix: poor maintenance and waste management. These are not glamorous problems, but they are real ones, and we will need to tackle them head on.
- And, though I'm sad to say it, crime is holding us back too. Although crime on Tristan is thankfully rare, the recent theft of diesel from the vehicles involved in the roads project has seriously impacted the work. Funding for future projects could also be jeopardised. A crime on Tristan is a crime against every single one of us. Let's stop it now!
All that said, I believe that Tristan will prosper. My focus this coming year will be on more investment in infrastructure, a focus on education and on the economy, all of which are critical to the future of Tristan.
So let us step into 2026 with the same spirit that carried us through 2025: optimism, resilience, and a dash of island humour. We know that when Buddys, Tiddys, and Okalolies pull together, there is no challenge too great, and no opportunity too small to seize.
Before I end, I would like to thank the Seven Seas team for all their help with the food and the bar tonight.
Raise your glasses to the year that was, and to the year that is to come. May 2026 bring us stronger infrastructure, smarter solutions, and plenty of laughter along the way.
Happy New Year!
Traditionally, the Admin's early evening reception is followed by more food and refreshments at the Chief Islander's house. People therefore made their way there from the Residency, but the Okalolies were not yet finished. There is firefighting point on the way, and they use the fire hose spray anyone who walked (or ran) past.
Marine conservation student Becca Nicholls being chased and soaked.
Chief Islander's Reception
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| Chief Islander Ian Lavarello delivering his speech. Photo: Philip Kendall |
Dilys Green with flowers and foliage presented to her by the Okalolies. |
Ian Lavarello's Speech
Good evening ladies and gentlemen.
I would like to start by thanking all the Okolalies for once again making an excellent turnout this year, it's good to see the younger generation keeping up the tradition.
The elections in March brought an amazing turnout, and brought new faces onto the Island Council. Thank you to everyone who voted, everyone who stood for election, and to all the Councillors who work hard to support the community. And I'd like to pay a special tribute to James, who served a record five times as Chief Islander and who started on the Council an amazing 43 years ago. He doesn't look old enough - all that public service must be good for you!
At the other end of the age range, we were all so proud when Owen set the record for the youngest person ever to deliver a speech in the House of Commons in London. I'm told the applause in the chamber was deafening - and I'm pretty sure it was here on Tristan too.
It's been a busy year for ship calls, and it's great that we can now take card payments from our visitors. For islanders there were frustrating waits while the Lance and the Agulhas II sat in Cape Town - but we're already excited for the arrival of the Northern Ranger*, with the new concession now just a year away.
And talking of the concession, welcome to Ovenstone representatives Erik Mackenzie, Fouche and family and the Indonesian team. It was great to welcome James Wallace to Tristan. We expected him to be keen, but we never expected how much he would fall in love with the island, or how much time he would spend talking to us all. The handover will be hard work, but I believe we can be optimistic for the future with Fortuna.
I'm really pleased that there's been so much progress on infrastructure this year. From solar to roads, and from electrics to aircon, it's making a positive difference to all our lives. And we're very grateful to the visiting workforce who've brought their skills here to make it happen.
Finally, a lot of us have been off the island, for medical or training, this year and I would like to wish all islanders in Cape Town a very Happy New Year it's been fantastic that almost everyone made it home in time to be with family for Christmas. Tristan is all about the community, and seeing our community complete at this time of year is a lovely thing.
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and all the best for 2026.
People gathered at the Chief Islander's party. Photo: Philip Kendall
End of an Eventful Day
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People dispersed to their own family parties and braais after Ian's reception but assembled again by the fishing dong behind Prince Philip Hall at midnight to ring in the New Year - the only time anyone is allowed to ring it. There is strong sense of tradition on Old Year's Night, and the custom brings the whole Tristan community together. The scaring and soaking were all taken in good fun, and there was plenty of laughter all round. Philip Kendall counted 18 Okalolies, including the new policeman Barry, who got really stuck in! We wish all our family and friends around the world a very Happy New Year, and all the best for 2026 |
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| Tristan's new policeman (right) not wearing his usual uniform. |
* The Northern Ranger will be Fortuna's dedicated cargo and passenger vessel and is currently undergoing a refit at Bull Arm, Newfoundland, Canada. She previously operated ferry services around the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador. It it not yet known when the maiden voyage will take place.