Dennis Grimes has died.

Sad to relate that well known Palmerston  man Dennis Grimes has died.
Dennis was born in Palmerston in 1930. His parents were English immigrants who had moved to Tamba- Tamba in the mid 1920's.
Dennis spent his working life as a fisherman and lived in a cottage near the Quays. He never married and had no children.
His nephew, Noel Grimes paid tribute:
My Uncle Dennis Grimes was a truly unremarkable man. His main attribute was his consistency. Posterity? Nothing. Just a 100% ordinary  fellow who went about his daily routines, year in year out. He never asked nothing of nobody. He didn't really have many interests and I can't think of anything amusing to say about him.

An Account of the Principal Events of My Life by Henry Bould.

 Here's some stimulating news.
A member of the Prott team, Dr Dennis Groves, has recently spent time at  The Bodleian Library in Oxford studying the manuscript of An Account of the Principal Events of My Life by Henry Bould.

Bould, you may recall,  was the only survivor of the crew of  HMS Dreadful that left Tamba- Tamba under Mr Jeffries
Midshipman Henry Bould was born in Bristol in 1757. A conventional Young Gentleman, his early career was unremarkable. He supported Summer's mutiny as he was a believer in 'fair play'  and thought that Captain Stokes was no longer fit to command.
Captured by the French shortly after leaving Tamba-Tamba, Bould spent ten years as a prisoner in Guadeloupe. He escaped and made his way to the United States. He was granted a Royal Pardon in 1798 and returned to Portsmouth the following year. He lived to the age of 96 in quiet retirement in Bath Spa.

 Dr Groves

Dennis Groves writes: An Account of the Principal Events of My Life is a remarkable document. Quite how it has never been  published commercially is beyond me, as it contains all the elements of the great adventure stories.
However, our interest here lies with Tamba- Tamba, and of the approximately half a million words that Bould wrote,  just a few pages tell us anything about the island and the events that occurred there.
Bould comes across as being  the sort  who, almost naively, sees the good in everyone, and seems to be able to justify the actions of others even at his own expense.
He attributes Captain Stokes' 'decline of reason' to the ardours of a long journey with a fractious crew.
He writes admiringly of Summers, but seems that he was scarcely aware of Cock until Tome- Tome.
Following the death of Summers Bould's main motivation was to be able to return to England. He sided with Jeffries, he tells us, simply because he felt that being on board the ship was preferable to being 'marooned on an unknown island'.
According to Bould's account the relations between the two factions were almost cordial even when they were arguing on the most important point of all- whether to leave the island or not. There was some dislike of Cock and Rowley, says Bould, as it seemed to the ordinary men that they 'were grown too clever, not like the regular fellows of before.'  He also refers to Cock as 'godless' on more than one occasion.

Bould found Tamba- Tamba most pleasant island. He was ill at ease in Wessels island, and welcomed the absence of natives. He observed that Cock was probably correct in his conviction that men could live easily on the island, but that they were in fact , 'creating a most desolate gaol for themselves by remaining there'.
Bould refers to the ease with which the men were able to catch turtles and a variety of fishes, and although he describes the interior of the island as being 'mostly forested; so dense as to prove impenetrable' (200 years of human presence have taken their toll there, I'm afraid!), he alludes to 'various species of mamals (sic) or rodents and great sorts of birds' that were also eaten.
Bould doesn't really tell us anything startlingly new about the island, and his account of the disputes between Cock (he scarcely mentions Cock alone, it is always Cock and Rowley) and Jeffries are far from dramatic. This is, however, a remarkable document and would be of great interest to any enthusiasts of Tamba-Tamba history.

Did you know?

The renowned sociologist, philosopher, cultural theorist and political commentator Hector Berry-Smith (1929-1984) had strong connections with Tamba-Tamba.
His mother, Hester Berry, was one of the Berry's of Tamba- Tamba. His father, Collin Scott Smith was a South African sea captain.
Hector was born in Cape Town and after studying at Cambridge he settled in London and Paris.
He visited the island on a number of occasions in the 1950's.
Hector Berry-Smith was one of only a few European based political commentators to write at length about The Revolution, and his work on the US Blockade of 1983- Simulacra of Oppression- The Blockade as Absurdist Theatre is considered a classic.

New Surgeon General Appointed.

 Dr R.J Leonard (photograph courtesy of The British Medical Journal)

Following the death of Prof. Hercules Hastings-Smith back in September The Peoples Council For Health and Medical Services have been engaged in the recruitment of a suitable replacement as Surgeon General.
Earlier today an official bulletin was released announcing that Dr R.J Leonard has accepted the post.
Secretary General of The Peoples Council For Public Services (Health and Medical Affairs, (subdivision recruitment)) Kyle Rowley said: Dr Leonard is just the sort of guy we were looking for. He's young, dynamic and a committed syndicalist. The Peoples Council are pleased to put the health of the people, our greatest asset, in his capable hands.
Dr Leonard was unavailable for comment, but we understand that he will be moving to Tamba-Tamba in February.

Xmas At Tamba- Tamba...

Here's an e mail we recently received from Joe in Kingston - upon- Hull, England.
Hi PROTT,
I am followin youre blog as part of  my school project on different societies.
I was just wonderin what Xmas is like on Tamba tamba?
Is there any special traditions or anything?
Is there turkey?
Also whats the wether like ?
My uncle Tony sez in some countries xmas is in the summer?
be lucky
Joe
Firstly Joe, it's nice to see young people taking an interest in Tamba- Tamba.Our culture is undoubtedly very different from yours in England.
You might be surprised to hear that we don't celebrate Xmas in Tamba- Tamba, at least not in the same way as you do.
This is for the simple reason that we are a secular society. There is no religion on Tamba- Tamba. I know that some people in the west say that Xmas no longer has anything to do with religion. But of course, being a Socialist Republic we are also opposed to conspicuous consumerism, capitalism and the generation of debt.
Don't worry though. it's not all bad news!
From the earliest days of the first settlers there as always been a winter holiday. Even though Thomas Lazenby Cock and his followers rejected Christianity, they still celebrated Xmas after a fashion, with big feasts and drinking parties.
In fact they still referred to this holiday as Xmas, even though it was absolutely removed from any religious context.
As time went on the 25th December was supplanted as the main winter holiday by New Years Eve /Day.
People at Tamba- Tamba celebrate this in much the same way as you do Xmas, by giving presents and getting together with their friends and relatives.  People here, of course, are not so able to spend massive amounts of money.
As for the weather we are lucky. It's not hot at Xmas but it's not exactly winter either. The average temperature for December/ January is 15 degrees Celsius.

 Here are some pics from last years New Years Holiday:

 Buffet at Palmerston Quays Maritime Workers Club.

 An eat out at Cox's Plantation- Joyce Stock tucks in!

 Girls from PROTT academy at the college party.

FC Tamba-Tamba New Years BBQ

Dick Francis' Hospitality Stand at The House of May 15th.

Enjoy your holidays!

Orlando Hooper Remembers...

Orlando Hooper c1910

 We have been privileged to conduct a series of interviews with the oldest living Tamba- Tambaman, 109 year old Orlando Hooper . As he speaks in very pronounced Tamba- Tamba English we have made the text more 'reader friendly'.

 

Prott: Citizen Hooper, you were born in 1901; what is your earliest memory?

OH:  Well, I fancy I remember lots of things that I can't rightly recall- small details from around the house and that, from when I was no more than a baby, but reckon these must be things I was told later. For sure though I remember watching the boats coming in, and I remember wanting to go to the school with the other children. Normal, everyday things. I remember my uncle telling me that all Hoopers were fishermen, and waiting patiently to go out with them.

Prott: And you went out as a fisherman at a very young age?

OH: Full time from when I was nine, but even before that I was able to do some work on the boats. It didn't seem like work as you might think of it. It seemed most natural like. It was just what we did.

Prott: So you left school at nine?

OH: Yes- school started when you were five. It was only a couple of hours a day. But you had to go. Then once you had the basics, enough learning to be useful, your father could go to the Council and put the case for you going off to work. Or to carry on with your learning. All of us was fishing. My family always wanted more boats out, more men, less hard work. We were the main fishing family and it suited the Council. By the time I came along we were already providing enough so we could trade overseas.

Prott: This was a time of great advancement...

OH: For sure, things were getting more advanced. The Old Kakoy, he was all for it. 

Prott: Clifton Gates?

OH: Yes. All for the progress; machines and the like. It was him that started the cannery and the pickle works...

Prott: Do you think it was a good thing?

OH: For sure. People wanted it. There wasn't the problems they had elsewhere. Unemployment and that. It just made life easier for the working people.

It was always exciting when some new thing came to the island, a steam tractor or something.

Prott: Recently we've been looking back to the time of the 1914-1918 war, what do you remember about it?

OH: I remember thinking would I have to be a soldier? (laughs). And folks worrying that the Germans would invade Tamba. I don't know why they would have (laughs). Older lads, my brothers and that, doing their turn in the militia, and of course, Father and my Uncle going off to sea with The Kakoy on his warship.

Prott: The sloop?

OH: That's right. The Kakoy looked very grand in his uniform. I don't think there could have been a German or English general looking grander. Then of course when he died we had the big funeral. What a day. Everybody on Tamba was out there that day. I mean everybody. Everything stopped. There was a great sense of sadness over the whole place for a long time afterwards.
Prott: What do you remember about the Kakoy?
OH: The Old Kakoy and Sir Hugo were right amazing men. Always something new. Interested in the life of the ordinary folk too.
HR was another thing alltogether.
Prott: You knew him personally?
OH: I considered him a friend. I don't like it when they calls him The Mad Kakoy. A more lovely man you couldn't wish to meet. I remember him working on the vegetable plots- just the same as the other men, digging away, drinking his cold tea from a tin bottle, always smoking miserable little cigarettes. he would turn his hand at anything. He even did some work on our boats, painting and caulking and the like. Never saying too much, keeping his counsel as they say...

We'll be hearing more from Citizen Hooper in the near future.

Harry Roy

During an early visit to Tamba- Tamba c 1901.

 

At New York, 1908.

Henry Royston Sleight, the Third Kakoy.

 Lady Harriet

Some notes:
Harry Roy, as he was fondly known throughout his life, was born in Bristol in 1890.
He was the only son of Clifton Gates and Letitia Sleight.
He was sent to boarding school at seven. He later attended Clifton College. Harry Roy had problems learning. He was affected by homesickness, over-activity and poor concentration.
From the age of ten he spent his summers on Tamba- Tamba.
He loved the island and the people, and spent more time at Palmerston Quays than at the Big House.
His lack of academic achievement worried Clifton Gates. Clifton Gates sent him to the USA under the supervision of Thomas Paine Cox, but this did not achieve the desired end. In 1908 Tom Cox wrote to Clifton Gates:
'We are all cut from different cloth; even the son can differ greatly from the father. I think Harry will never be suited to academic study, or to any calling that requires such a background. I'm sorry to have to tell you this. Rest assured he has been splendid company, and his conduct is at all times impeccable'.
Harry Roy was returned to Tamba- Tamba and placed under the mentorship of his Uncle, Sir Hugo Gates.
Sir Hugo retained an advisory role when Harry Roy succeeded Clifton Gates as Kakoy.

Harry Roy was known affectionately as The Mad Kakoy. There is no suggestion that he was insane, but he was prolifically eccentric. During his childhood visits he was indistinguishable from the poorer urchins of the quayside. In adult life he usually went about in the garb of a common labourer, and would, unsolicited, carry out various manual jobs around the island. Chimney sweeping was his favourite occupation. On other occasions he would assume the role of 'Lady Harriet' .
Paradoxically he was a great admirer of Lenin, and believed that the island should embrace communism. In the Kakoy household he treated his staff as his equals and insisted on doing his share of the domestic chores.
A keen smoker, Harry Roy promoted the growth of tobacco on the island.
He died at the age of 39, unmarried and without children.
It is commonly believed that he died as the result of a blow to the head received from a cricket ball some weeks before he was found dead in his bathtub.

Hargreaves Cicada

Chremistica Hargreavesia photographed by Elza Rowley- Hooper.
Visitors to Tamba-Tamba are often astonished by the noise of the cicadas. Chremistica Hargreavesia is among the loudest insects in the world.

PROTT vs FC Shakhtar Donetsk (2009)

6. Hartley Cox (Pompey)
15. Marvin Stock (Fagiano Okayama)
8. Wilson Stock (Albion)
1. Fidel Smith ( FC Tamba-Tamba)
13. Nicky Cox (Pompey)
7. Edinho (FC Tamba-Tamba)
14. Cas Rowley (Albion)
5. Lee Berry (FC Tamba-Tamba- capt)
11. Luke Rowley-Hooper (Workers)
10.Ivor Stock (Albion)
4. Elvis Howard (Workers)

PROTT appeared in this rather unfamiliar all- blue strip for the visit of  FC Shakhtar Donetsk Ukraine during the winter break in the Ukranian season last year (December 2009).
A decent crowd at May 15th Stadium saw a well drilled young  Shakhtar side run out 6-1 winners. Lee Berry got PROTTs goal from a penalty.
FC Tamba-Tamba's  Edinho, born in Brazil, became the first naturalised immigrant to play for PROTT.
 Well done to Dick Francis and  Shakhtar Chairman Rinat Akhmetov for negotiating this visit.