Saint Helena Tales

by Geoffrey Martin

Everyone has heard of St Helena, but nobody knows much about it. This suits most of its inhabitants just fine. Unfortunately it does not suit its remote rulers in London, who think it costs too much and ideally should be made to earn money for them. It is still a mini-colony in the time when these stories are set, complete with a Governor with feathers on his hat. The locals just want to get on with their lives. But money is short and many of them are forced to leave, sometimes forever.

These stories are mostly a light-hearted look at life on this tiny island. They have an airport now, but these are tales of life in earlier times that will soon seem very remote, a peep into a way of life that will soon be forgotten. There are some marvellous local characters with all their problems and peccadilloes, the good and not-so-good officials sent out from London to try and run the place. There is also the unwanted official visitor when it is sensed that the remote control from afar is not as effective as it might be. And the assorted mercenaries, missionaries and misfits who briefly appear in their lives. As in all small places there are endless opportunities to scheme and manoeuvre to achieve their respective ends.

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