St Helena - Joining The Rest Of Us

Episodes

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01The Land20160520

St Helena, a tiny volcanic scrap of an island in the South Atlantic, dazzling in its flora and fauna, the second most remote community in the world, is about to change forever, and BBC Radio 4 has commissioned a unique ringside perspective on the historic event.

Since the May 1502, when the island was discovered by the Portuguese, the only way to access the island was by sea. No wonder it's mighty isolation struck fear into the heart of Napoleon as he approached its monstrous cliffs.

Now a brand new airport is being built, and will, it is hoped, tempt up to 20,000 tourists a year to visit the island, where 4,000 'Saints' make up the current population.

It will be one of the most beautiful and precipitous airports in the world, and the hope is that the revenue will strengthen St Helena economic viability; but how will it change the way of life of this remote and wild place?

Joe Hollins, veterinary surgeon and unlikely reporter, has, for the past 6 months, been recording his life on the island, from the perspective of a vet, capturing the beating heart of the community, along with quite a lot of sheep - to find out what changes the islanders anticipate as they lose their isolated status.

Being called out to dissect whales, inseminate cows, tramp donkey paths, inspect tropical fish and perform endless operations on pets, Joe's life as a vet has given him an insight into the island life, not least taking care of the world's oldest land creature, Jonathan, a Seychelles tortoise who is probably 182 years old.

Generations of "Saints", with their distinctive accent, have climbed cruel looming cliffs to fish and farm; guano glints like glitter on the rocks, and masked boobies squawk at the visitor rather than fly away. It certainly sounds like the sort of destination adventurous tourist have been looking for.

Programme two takes up the story of the retirement of the last Royal Mail Ship, the RMS St Helena, which has been the lifeline for the island, as it completes its final tour of duty. Its also been the means by which Joe has sent his recordings back to the UK, on one of the longest mail routes in the world.

Producer: Sara Jane Hall

Music: "On The Isle of St Helena" sung by Steve Turner, on his "The Whirligig of Time" album

Additional musical effects by David Bramwell.

Meet Joe, vet to the oldest land animal on earth, reporting on a new airport for St Helena

Two-part documentary looking at the second most remote community in the world

02The Sea20160527

No quick way in or out - until the construction of the new airport, there was only one way in and out of St Helena, the Royal Mail Ship - six day voyage from Cape Town. So what happens when someone is sick on the island?
As the island's first airport nears completion, Joe Hollins, is also reaching the end of his contract as Chief Veterinary Officer. He concludes his record of the last days of the lonely island - diving its pristine waters, completing his final surgical operations, and talking to the 'Saints' who work on the retiring boat about the changes that will come as the island is connected to the rest of the world for the first time.

Producer: Sara Jane Hall.

Is this the end for one of the last Royal Mail ships? The RMS St Helena takes a bow.

Two-part documentary looking at the second most remote community in the world