Having returned from overseas I was pleased to be appointed Director and to find Rebecca willing to resume a supporting role for which the Trust is most grateful as the office seems busier than ever. I am grateful to Rebecca, Terry, and the Trust Council members for their support in these early days of managing the Trust. The Trust Council has now endorsed policies on Trees, Historic Buildings & Sites, Donor and National Heritage Register and these will now guide the position taken by the Trust in pursuing its objectives. The need for these policies was recognised early on in the Trust’s life and it is planned to develop other policies building up a full range to support the Trust’s work. Copies of our policies will be placed on the website and can be obtained from the Trust office. The office is most grateful to the voluntary help given by Sue Bagley (wife of Bob the Customs advisor) – come again! It has been a busy time and this looks set to continue so if there are other volunteers please let us know. There have been some new Life members join the Trust and annual members are reminded that their subscriptions are due - our thanks to those who have paid!

In May, the Trust was approached by SHG to comment on a proposal from a marine archaeological survey and salvage company “Deeptrek” - this was done with help from key Trust Council members giving invaluable support to the Director. A team from Deeptrek arrived for a week’s visit in June, to discuss their proposal which focused on further survey and salvage from the Dutch Indiamen wreck the Witte Leeuw; their programme was coordinated by the Trust at the request of SHG. There was a huge response from around the world - universities and environmental organisations flooded the e-mail with advice. The current position is that no agreement has been entered into by St Helena in spite of pressure from Deeptrek to receive such. It would be wonderful if one of the academic institutions which sent in comments would now consider developing, with St Helena, an archaeological proposal to address the underlying need for a survey to identify our marine heritage.

Perhaps one of the saddest things to report is the continuing demise of Hutts Gate Store- apparently no action can be taken until the property has gone to auction and there’s a new owner. Meanwhile it has continued to deteriorate. On a happier note, we can report that a project on historic buildings has been agreed between the Trust and SHG and Mr Edmund Simons. He & a colleague will arrive in October to offer training in Recording of Historic Buildings as a precursor to a second phase when training in restoration techniques will take place. The Trust is grateful for the support of SHG, AWSL and the National Maritime Museum without whose cooperation the project could not have been developed. If you are interested in taking up the opportunity to undergo this training, then please contact the Trust office and book a place. Discussions are ongoing with Landmark Trust & SHG regarding Bertrand’s Cottage. This project could enable the Trust to begin to earn revenue towards becoming a self-sustaining entity – perhaps a long way down the road but something we all wish to see.

Cathy Hopkins
Director

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