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St Helena Saints


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On November 5th I will be off to one of the remotest places in the world - the island of St Helena in the South Atlantic. It takes at least six days to get there - longer than it takes to get to the Moon - so I'm lodging my claim to be the furthest Saints season ticket holder on the planet. Having bought a season ticket throughout the bad times it's a big disappointment to be unable to use it now that we are back in the Premiership but I will be offering the ticket at a reduced rate with half of the proceeds going to Two Saints Housing Association and the Saints Foundation.

 

The locals on the Island call themselves 'Saints' and so I am taking with me all of my Saints shirts and a flag to establish what I hope will be the South Atlantic Saints Supporters Team. Full match reports to follow!

 

Andy

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I visited St Helena in 2010 as my brother-in-law and family were living there (they left this year). I didn't come across any Saints supporters there but one Saint approached me on the boat when he saw my cap and said he had been to the Dell. Other than that the only connection I found was the clapped out old Ford Escort we hired for the week for £10/day which had been imported from Testwood Motors in Southampton.

 

The island is worth a visit although we virtually saw and did everything in one week. The Napoleon stuff is ineresting and there are some good walks. The whole nature of the place will no doubt change when the airport is finished in 2015.

 

I would recommend a few days (or even a week if you have time) in Cape Town before getting on the boat.

 

I assume you are working for the Government? Good luck and enjoy your stay.

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My Nan was from St Helena and my dads brother and two sisters were also born there, you would be surprised how many "Saints" who emigrated to the UK actually settled in the South.

 

Always brings amazement when I tell people I have origins there, so you could say I'm a St Helena Saint!

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I've been to St Helena and the even more remote (in fact most remote Island in the world) Tristan Da Cunha which Is part of the territory. Nice places when the weather's good!

 

Will let you know if I'm passing by St Helena in the future and bring you some supplies from Blighty!

 

I also visited both of these islands (and Ascension) in 1982, shortly after the Falkland War. (We actually ferried a number of civilians between the islands on our frigate.) They are indeed very interesting islands.

 

One fact that I recall - at the time, 1982, there were 7 females for every male living on St Helena. I don't know if that is still the case or (if it is) if that had any influence on Andy moving there. ;)

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Thanks everyone for your comments - I will be moving to a 3 bed bunfgalow so will always have room for passing Saints fans. Don't underestimate the cost and time involved in getting to St Helena though! I am shipping six old Saints shirts to start a local Saints team - will send a team pic to the match programme. COYS!

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  • 2 months later...

I had a nice customer on St Helena, as I type their name escapes me, but it's the big general store on the Island. I use to get 2 good orders a year our of them, then the boat that ran from Weymouth with supplies went into dry dock then never returned to the route.

I always recall the lady I spoke to saying she had Grandchildren then revealed that she was 38!! First thought was TV must be really pants of an evening!

;)

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I had a nice customer on St Helena, as I type their name escapes me, but it's the big general store on the Island. I use to get 2 good orders a year our of them, then the boat that ran from Weymouth with supplies went into dry dock then never returned to the route.

I always recall the lady I spoke to saying she had Grandchildren then revealed that she was 38!! First thought was TV must be really pants of an evening!

;)

 

Yes, the boat, the RMS St Helena, used to come to the UK (Portland) twice a year but now it will just stick to the Cape Town - St Helena - Ascension Island - St Helena - Cape Town route and presumably will be pensioned off when the airport is completed.

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Thorpes Emporium was the place, Market Street. They had a place in Acension too if I recall. Monica was my contact.

Shame the boat only does the short trip now, the prices will shoot up in the shop if they start airfreighting more stuff in that way........ Noticed the price on Skype has rocketed up to £1.13 per minute.

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