Happy New Year!

Pyrotechnics over Palmerston Harbour as 2010 gives way to 2011.

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.

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!

The Death of Clifton Gates Kakoy.

Despite the martial atmosphere life on Tamba- Tamba followed a relatively normal pattern and the hostilities remained a very distant affair.
In April 1915 the islanders prepared for the Hargie Cull, which had taken place annually since at least 1800.
Every man, woman, girl and boy big and healthy enough to bear a weapon participated in the event.
Clifton Gates Kakoy and his party had a lodge near Cox's Plantation, and after breakfasting with their guest, Snr.  Juan Angel McDonald, an engineer from Buenos Ares, the Kakoy party set out to bag their first lot of bandicoots.

At approximately 11:00 the party divided into two in order to flush some quarry out of a thicket.
A rifle discharged and The Kakoy fell. He had been shot through the left cheek and died instantly. Dr Bramwell Livermore was at the scene, but could see that there was nothing to be done.
The identity of the person who's gun caused the fatality was never revealed.

Sons of Dreadful Hargie Hunting Club.

Members of the Kakoy's party on the fateful day, left to right: Snr. Juan Angel McDonald of Buenos Ares, Sir Hugo Gates, Harry Roy.

The Kakoy had been well liked and the island plunged into mourning. Every person on the island attended the funeral, as well as a group from Wessels Island.

Clifton Gates Kakoy lies in state at The Big House.

Clifton Gates begins his final journey- left to right: Lady Cecilia Gates, Letitia Sleight, Dickon Berry (he built the coffin),  Sir Hugo Gates, Harry Roy  Kakoy,  Dr Bramwell Livermore, Lawrence Stock,  Harold Makepeace (a member of the Kakoy household).

The Old Cemetery-used from 1777- 1965- note the solitary Christian gravemarker, that of The Unknown Sailor.

 

 

The Kakoy Mausoleum photographed in the 1970's. It was demolished after the Revolution.

Sport at Tamba- Tamba: Football- The PROTT League/ FA Cup

Association Football was introduced to Tamba- Tamba by British sailors in the last decade of the 19th century.

Clifton Gates, a great believer in the salutary qualities of organised sport, founded The Football Club of Tamba- Tamba in 1910. The club, like its cricket counterpart, had the reputation of being somewhat nepotistic and exclusive. In 1911 the townsmen of Palmerston issued a formal challenge to The Football Club, and the island's second team, Albion, came into being.
The Football Club remained the dominant team, and unsurprisingly it was they who played in the islands first representative match in 1914, when Exeter City visited Tamba- Tamba on their way home from South America. Exeter City won 4-1.
Portsmouth FC visited later in the year for reasons that are shrouded in mystery. They played both The Football Club ( Portsmouth won 3-1) and Albion. Albion beat the visitors by 3 goals to 2 in an extraordinary match. Albion members then formed Pompey in lasting tribute to their guests.
Given the small population, it is not surprising that the quality of Tamba- Tamba football was not high, with young lads and older players often making up the numbers.

One notable exception was  George Berry (1903- 1970). Growing up in Palmerston and playing his football with Albion, young George later moved to England and played a handful of matches for Millwall before moving to Aldershot Town. Ever restless, he later found himself in Chile where he played for Santiago Wanderers. The Chileans were keen to take him to the 1930 World Cup, but he declined the offer of citizenship. He later moved to Newell's Old Boys in Argentina. On his return to Tamba- Tamba he played on into his late 40's and then coached FC Tamba- Tamba for many years.
After the Revolution the game advanced in leaps and bounds under the watchful eye of the Peoples Council for Sport and Recreation.

FC Tamba- Tamba

Known as 'The Big Side', founded in 1910, historically the richest and  most successful club on the island. Enjoyed the patronage of the Kakoys. In recent years has attracted attention through its signing of the Brazilian professionals Edison dos Santos and Julianinho. 

International

Founded in 1967 when increasing numbers of overseas workers were arriving in Tamba- Tamba , Inter replaced the traditional whipping boys , Plantation FC.  Players registered to the club had to have been born outside Tamba- Tamba. This rule no longer applies.

Albion

The second club, founded 1911- 'the club of the poor'. Traditionally the most fanatically supported club. Famously defeated Portsmouth in 1914.

Pompey

Pompey's origins are unique in the world of football in that they were founded as a 'guest' team whose role any visitors to Tamba- Tamba  would be asked to fulfil. Originally a 'second string' to Albion who played them in practice matches, the first actual team to assume the 'role' of Pompey were the crew of HMS Neptune in 1918. They became a 'proper' club in 1936 to compete in the FA Cup.

The Workers

Founded 1980 to replace Corinthians, a club which had been formed by George Wilmslow Kakoy in 1933.

The PROTT league was instituted in 1980.Prior to this the matches had been played on a friendly or challenge basis, with the exception of the FA Cup. Each year four clubs would play a knock out tournament of two legs with the overall winners meeting the last seasons winners in the FA Cup final. The first FA Cup took place in 1935.

Since 1981 the FA Cup has been contested by the two teams finishing top of the league. The final is held on the first Saturday following May 15th.

A campaign to win the recognition of FIFA is ongoing. Both Herr Josef Blatter and Mr Jack Warner have attended matches at The May 15th Stadium. During the Pre- Revolutionary era FC Tamba-Tamba were the national team by default, playing matches against Cape Verde (several matches), New York Cosmos (1975), Botofago (Brazil -1964) Chelsea (England-1968) and Zaire (1974).

Since 1980 the national team has been truly representative, although fixtures have been limited (2 per year on average). The latest foreign team to visit Tamba Tamba was FC Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine.

PROTT (National Side)