0:00:03 > 0:00:08Deep in the south Atlantic Ocean, 8,000 miles from the UK,
0:00:08 > 0:00:12the Falkland Islands are one of the most isolated places on Earth.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Over the last 30 years, the famously hardy islanders
0:00:17 > 0:00:22have overcome war and adversity to preserve their way of life,
0:00:22 > 0:00:26but now there's another challenge just over the horizon.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Oil has been discovered offshore and, whilst the human
0:00:29 > 0:00:33residents here stand to benefit, there are others who may not.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39It's May in the southern hemisphere, and excitement is growing
0:00:39 > 0:00:42for the social event of the autumn, the May Ball.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46I got my nails done, and my hair.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49I had my turn... Can't remember which year. A long time ago, though!
0:00:51 > 0:00:55And there's a new RAF chaplain at the military base.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Hello, Mark, it's the padre.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00Padre Ian does the rounds of his congregation,
0:01:00 > 0:01:03but will he manage to entertain the troops?
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Where do you think we are, then? "We're in the school."
0:01:05 > 0:01:09Yes, we're in the school, that's right.
0:01:09 > 0:01:10Hmm, OK.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41Welcome to you if you're visiting the Falkland Islands
0:01:41 > 0:01:46or whether you're here on East Falkland and in Stanley today.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50Sunday in Stanley, and in Christchurch Cathedral
0:01:50 > 0:01:53it's business as usual for the rector of the Falkland Islands,
0:01:53 > 0:01:55the Reverend Richard Hines.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59For those who would like to learn a new song, it goes like this.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Are you ready?
0:02:01 > 0:02:05# A man went out to sow some seed
0:02:05 > 0:02:09# And some fell in the rocks
0:02:09 > 0:02:14# The sun beat down and the plants dried up... #
0:02:14 > 0:02:17- WOMAN CHUCKLES - That's a dry plant.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21# And that was the end of that. #
0:02:21 > 0:02:24When Richard arrived on the Falklands almost seven years ago
0:02:24 > 0:02:27the islands were already a very different place
0:02:27 > 0:02:29from the mainly agricultural community
0:02:29 > 0:02:34that fell under the world's spotlight during the 1982 war.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Most of his congregation now live and work in Stanley
0:02:37 > 0:02:41and what was a declining population is definitely on the up.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47There have certainly been massive changes
0:02:47 > 0:02:49for people who live in the Falkland Islands
0:02:49 > 0:02:51during the last 35 years.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55And, if anything, the pace of change is accelerating.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58And what it's taken some countries
0:02:58 > 0:03:01a couple of centuries to pass through,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04the Falkland Islands has gone through in a few decades.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07In 1998, islanders learnt that deposits of oil
0:03:07 > 0:03:11had been discovered in the waters surrounding the Falklands.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13And since then, there's been a lot of speculation
0:03:13 > 0:03:15about the size of the find
0:03:15 > 0:03:18and when, or even if, anything would come of it.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22So the arrival of a 400-foot barge into Stanley Harbour
0:03:22 > 0:03:26is an exciting sign that things are finally on the move.
0:03:28 > 0:03:33The noble barge has arrived - made in, er, Texas
0:03:33 > 0:03:36and brought down through the South Atlantic.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39And I'm quite impressed with the way in which these tugs
0:03:39 > 0:03:42are manoeuvring the thing through what we call the narrows.
0:03:42 > 0:03:47It's one more step in a whole series of things that are happening
0:03:47 > 0:03:52as the build-up for oil exploration itself is underway.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55The Texan company who own the barge
0:03:55 > 0:03:59have been granted a licence by the Falkland Islands government
0:03:59 > 0:04:02to explore one of the areas where oil has been discovered.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04And they've flown in a couple of their representatives
0:04:04 > 0:04:08to tell everyone about their plans.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11Ladies and gentlemen, exciting times are upon us here
0:04:11 > 0:04:16for Noble Energy and, we believe, for the Falkland Islands as well.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19One of the things that we're very committed to is
0:04:19 > 0:04:22if we are so fortunate as to be successful,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25that everybody benefits from whatever makes sense.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28I don't know what the numbers... how meaningful they are,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31but, suffice it to say, it's big.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Everyone is excited about the prospect of oil
0:04:35 > 0:04:38and the money it'll bring to the islands,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41but nobody wants it to spoil what they've got here.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45Arguably the Falklands' greatest asset is its wildlife.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49Five different species of penguin, seals and a host of sea birds
0:04:49 > 0:04:52could be at risk when their natural habitat is disturbed.
0:04:54 > 0:04:59Australian marine biologist Megan Tierney has been drafted in
0:04:59 > 0:05:02to work with the Falkland Islands government
0:05:02 > 0:05:04and the petroleum licence holders' association
0:05:04 > 0:05:07to help make sure that doesn't happen.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10I first fell in love with Antarctic stuff, I think,
0:05:10 > 0:05:15when I was about ten or so, and I decided that's where I wanted to go.
0:05:15 > 0:05:16And then I saw a new job come up
0:05:16 > 0:05:19at the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22A lot of the work I'll be doing while I'm here
0:05:22 > 0:05:24will be focused on what we call higher marine predators.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26So these are the animals which are sort of
0:05:26 > 0:05:28at the top of the food chain, essentially.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31So, penguins...they might not seem like
0:05:31 > 0:05:34the most ferocious of predators, as such,
0:05:34 > 0:05:36but they are sort of at that top of the food chain
0:05:36 > 0:05:38in this part of the world,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40so they might be quite susceptible
0:05:40 > 0:05:44to any potential environmental impacts from the oil industry.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46So if there happened to be a spill,
0:05:46 > 0:05:49which, you know, is going to be unlikely, but in case it does,
0:05:49 > 0:05:51because of their diving behaviour
0:05:51 > 0:05:56they'd be more susceptible to be impacted by that spill.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00One of Megan's first projects is to produce a map showing
0:06:00 > 0:06:03where in the ocean these creatures go to feed during the winter.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06To do this she just needs to catch several penguins
0:06:06 > 0:06:09and fit them with a satellite tracker,
0:06:09 > 0:06:11which is not as easy as it sounds.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14While penguins might appear to be, you know, small and cute and fluffy,
0:06:14 > 0:06:16they've actually got a lot of character -
0:06:16 > 0:06:19quite capable of giving you a good whack with their flippers,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22you know, potentially breaking bones in hands and arms.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27And also quite sharp beaks and claws, so...and...
0:06:27 > 0:06:31which has been known to rip through quite expensive Gore-Tex jackets.
0:06:31 > 0:06:37So, um...yeah, worthwhile being wary of...of them.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40But Megan can't afford to hang around.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43To be useful, the study needs to monitor the birds' feeding patterns
0:06:43 > 0:06:46right from the beginning of winter through to the end,
0:06:46 > 0:06:49so she needs to catch her penguins while she can.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02At this time of year, the sun is low in the sky
0:07:02 > 0:07:05and sets at around five o'clock.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08For the youth of Stanley, that can only mean one thing -
0:07:08 > 0:07:11it's time to get their dancing shoes on.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14The annual May Ball is fast approaching,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17a milestone event in every Stanley teenager's life,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20and nobody wants to be shown up on their big night.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26Step, together, step and turn, and it's exactly the same.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29So you step, swing your leg, step back...
0:07:29 > 0:07:32'Basically we're here to help the youngsters learn to dance,
0:07:32 > 0:07:35'although most of them know a lot of the steps from previous dances.'
0:07:35 > 0:07:38I had my first May Ball back in 1991
0:07:38 > 0:07:40and spent a number of years away from the islands
0:07:40 > 0:07:43and, on returning, had to learn it all again.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47So we've all been there and kind of earned our dance shoes, as such, and
0:07:47 > 0:07:50it's just nice to be able to pass on skills to future generations.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Two steps to the line of dance, two steps against...
0:07:54 > 0:07:57I think it's something the girls coming up to 15
0:07:57 > 0:07:59look forward to every year.
0:07:59 > 0:08:00It takes a lot of planning
0:08:00 > 0:08:03because the girls have to order their dresses and it's a big thing -
0:08:03 > 0:08:06don't want to clash with someone else's colour and the rest of it.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10Hair appointments are hard to come by, nails done, it's...
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Yeah, it gets bigger and bigger every year!
0:08:13 > 0:08:17The May Ball is one of the Falkland Islands' most enduring traditions.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20It dates back to Queen Victoria's day, when it was called
0:08:20 > 0:08:25the Empire Ball and held every year on her birthday - the 25th of May.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30This year's ball is taking place at the Town Hall.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34Tim Miller and his wife, Jan, are in overall charge
0:08:34 > 0:08:36and, assisted by a team of helpers,
0:08:36 > 0:08:40they're putting the finishing touches to the decorations.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44- Don't stand on it - it'll be shorter!- Are you in uniform? Yes.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49That's nowhere near there. Is it all right?
0:08:49 > 0:08:54Each year, we try and pick a theme to focus on.
0:08:54 > 0:09:00This year being 2014, um, we're focusing very much
0:09:00 > 0:09:05on the centenary, 1914, start of the First World War and the huge,
0:09:05 > 0:09:08great big naval battle that took place just off the Falklands
0:09:08 > 0:09:15on 8th December 1914, between the British fleet and a German fleet.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18The Battle of the Falklands, as it became known,
0:09:18 > 0:09:23was one of the great British naval victories of the First World War.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26But it came only a few weeks after another British fleet
0:09:26 > 0:09:30had been defeated off the coast of Chile.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34The victorious German admiral then made the ill-fated decision
0:09:34 > 0:09:37to mount a raid on the supply base at Stanley,
0:09:37 > 0:09:41where he was met by a squadron of British battle cruisers.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Seriously outgunned, he turned and fled,
0:09:44 > 0:09:49but was hunted down, and all but two of his ships were sunk.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Although we're celebrating,
0:09:53 > 0:09:57we're also commemorating the massive loss of life as well
0:09:57 > 0:09:59and so we've decorated the hall accordingly -
0:09:59 > 0:10:02one side, we've got the pictures of the British ships
0:10:02 > 0:10:06and then on the other side, up here, we've got pictures
0:10:06 > 0:10:09of all the German heavy ships, as a mark of respect, really,
0:10:09 > 0:10:13to the 2,000 young seamen who went down on the German side.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15And then, up on the stage there,
0:10:15 > 0:10:20we've recreated two guns from a very old British battle ship,
0:10:20 > 0:10:25HMS Canopus, which was moored at the lower end of Stanley harbour.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28She was too slow to take part in the battle
0:10:28 > 0:10:31but she actually fired the opening salvo of the battle
0:10:31 > 0:10:34on that morning of December 8th.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39We've been helping run the May Ball now for...
0:10:39 > 0:10:43I think it must be 22 years, I would think.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47It's a lot of work, setting it all up, but we enjoy it.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50It's one of those nice little traditions that, you know,
0:10:50 > 0:10:54it just gives you a feel-good factor playing your little bit
0:10:54 > 0:10:56in helping keeping it going, really.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04I've just realised I've got it the wrong way up!
0:11:04 > 0:11:06Does this happen a lot?
0:11:07 > 0:11:09No, not usually, no.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14He's talking and working at the same time,
0:11:14 > 0:11:16and he's a bloke and they can't do that.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19That is worse than a thing you can do!
0:11:19 > 0:11:20HE LAUGHS
0:11:22 > 0:11:26It basically means you're in distress!
0:11:26 > 0:11:28Yeah, it's a shootable offence.
0:11:28 > 0:11:29Yes...
0:11:29 > 0:11:36The Union Flag upside down is actually a sign of distress, but
0:11:36 > 0:11:40if you don't know how to do it, it's quite easy to hang it upside down.
0:11:44 > 0:11:4735 miles south-west of Stanley,
0:11:47 > 0:11:50is Mount Pleasant British military base.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Since 1986, this has been the home of an ever-changing community
0:11:55 > 0:12:00of around 2,000 military personnel, contractors and their families.
0:12:00 > 0:12:05Most people here are on detachments of between 4 and 12 months.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11One of the most recent arrivals is Reverend Squadron Leader Ian Brown,
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Mount Pleasant's new chaplain.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16So we're just on our way to Mount Kent, which is
0:12:16 > 0:12:19one of our remote radar sites.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21We've got about ten people up here
0:12:21 > 0:12:24and they're all up here together for about four months.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28We're 8,000 miles away from the UK here,
0:12:28 > 0:12:31so that doesn't come without its issues for serving personnel.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34Hello, Mark, it's the padre.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40'My role here is really to look after the welfare of the serving
0:12:40 > 0:12:44'personnel, the contractors, any MOD civilians that might be here.'
0:12:45 > 0:12:47- How we doing, you all right? - Very well.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Yeah, good to see you. Keeping busy?
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Oh, yes!
0:12:51 > 0:12:54It's pure morale, um, basically you know that there's somebody
0:12:54 > 0:12:57out there who cares, somebody who's out of your command structure.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00- Everyone's getting on all right, are they?- Yeah, everyone's getting on OK.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02How's comms with home? All right?
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Yeah, not bad, I spoke to the missus a few times.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08She's happy enough, they get a bit of peace without me, you know.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Somebody who can actually look after the guys
0:13:10 > 0:13:12and push their cares forward.
0:13:12 > 0:13:13So what's on the menu tonight?
0:13:13 > 0:13:15Fajitas tonight, nice and steady.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17And comms with him have been all right, have they?
0:13:17 > 0:13:19Yeah, yeah, not bad.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21How you doing? How you getting on with Minesweeper?
0:13:21 > 0:13:25- Completed it. - That's fine, OK, great.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28You know, it's not unusual that after you've visited a section,
0:13:28 > 0:13:31within the next couple of days, somebody will call you
0:13:31 > 0:13:34and they'll perhaps have an issue that they want to talk through.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37And that's where a lot of the one-to-one pastoral work
0:13:37 > 0:13:38takes place.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42Back on the base, Padre Ian's centre of operations
0:13:42 > 0:13:44is St Cuthbert's chapel.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49So, this is my office.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Over here you can see pictures of my family, look.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56There's Sam, Becky and Emily, and Alfie the dog.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Look at him - he just melts the heart, doesn't he?
0:14:01 > 0:14:04Padre Ian is going to be away from his nearest and dearest
0:14:04 > 0:14:05for the next four months.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08But some service personnel on longer postings
0:14:08 > 0:14:10bring their families with them.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12The children have often been uprooted
0:14:12 > 0:14:14from their schools in the UK
0:14:14 > 0:14:16and part of Padre Ian's job
0:14:16 > 0:14:20is to make them feel at home in their new environment.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23And he's got a secret weapon to help him do just that.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25This is my friend, Grandpa.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Nice to meet you, Grandpa.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30"Thank you." And you've not met Rocky the Raccoon either, have you?
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Oh, you want to see Rocky the Raccoon.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34He doesn't say a lot, does Rocky,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36but he's certainly a firm favourite with the children.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39And how do Rocky and Grandpa get on?
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Grandpa doesn't like Rocky at all.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44So, um, I think Grandpa is in earshot
0:14:44 > 0:14:47so we'll just have to just be a bit sensitive.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00In Stanley, at the headquarters of Falkland Islands Conservation,
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Megan and conservation officer Sarah Crofts are preparing to go
0:15:04 > 0:15:06and tag some penguins.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08What have we got? Scales.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10Scales? Fantastic. Notebook.
0:15:10 > 0:15:11Yes.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15Various tools that we might need.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Their research will help protect the penguins and other wildlife
0:15:18 > 0:15:23once the much anticipated offshore oil exploration gets underway.
0:15:23 > 0:15:24Trackers?
0:15:24 > 0:15:26That would be a good thing to take with us.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29Yeah, so this is one of the trackers that we're going to be
0:15:29 > 0:15:30attaching to the penguins.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33When the bird comes to the surface, up to the sea surface,
0:15:33 > 0:15:35it will send a signal out through the antenna
0:15:35 > 0:15:37which will then...
0:15:37 > 0:15:40up to a satellite, which will give us its location.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43You know, you hear it said never work with children or animals
0:15:43 > 0:15:45and wildlife in particular.
0:15:45 > 0:15:46They're unpredictable.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49And so we're expecting that they'll be there,
0:15:49 > 0:15:51but there is this chance that they'll decide,
0:15:51 > 0:15:54"You know what? It's nice out there, out at sea today.
0:15:54 > 0:15:55"We're just going to hang out there
0:15:55 > 0:15:57"instead of coming back in for a rest."
0:15:57 > 0:15:59So...
0:16:00 > 0:16:03Megan's study is focusing on the gentoo penguin.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07The Falklands is home to the world's largest population of gentoos,
0:16:07 > 0:16:11identified by their orange beaks and long tails.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16OK, OK.
0:16:16 > 0:16:21In the summer, around 130,000 breeding pairs nest on the islands.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23But what isn't so well known
0:16:23 > 0:16:25is where they go to feed in the winter
0:16:25 > 0:16:27and how long they stay out at sea.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Their best chance of finding a colony of gentoos is Bertha's Beach,
0:16:33 > 0:16:3640 miles down the coast from Stanley.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38The penguins are at either end of the beach, aren't they?
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Yeah, they are. There's two colonies.
0:16:41 > 0:16:46So, yeah, we'll have to stay well back when we get there.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50But at this time of year, they're notoriously unpredictable.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56Looks like we've overcome the first challenge -
0:16:56 > 0:16:58whether there would be any penguins here.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03They don't seem too worried at the moment.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05- We've just got to keep it nice and slow.- Yeah...
0:17:05 > 0:17:08And every time they look like they're getting spooked,
0:17:08 > 0:17:10we'll just stop, let them settle again.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13We're going to try and approach the birds without disturbing them
0:17:13 > 0:17:17as much as possible because if we approach too quickly,
0:17:17 > 0:17:22they will get alarmed and basically run away from us.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24Right, if we just stop for a bit.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Just a case of inching forward, really slowly.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31The aim is to cause the penguins as little distress as possible
0:17:31 > 0:17:35so everyone's relieved when the first attempt is successful.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37PENGUIN BRAYS
0:17:45 > 0:17:48We've managed to get a couple of birds, so we're
0:17:48 > 0:17:51recording all the measurements that we take and the weight of the bird.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53OK...
0:17:53 > 0:17:546.7.
0:17:58 > 0:18:015.4 and 2.5.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05It's just to keep them calmer. If they can't see,
0:18:05 > 0:18:08they tend to just keep a bit calmer just to reduce stress.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Let's just stick the tape underneath the feathers.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14This is special waterproof tape.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17The important thing is to make sure it's sort of on the spine
0:18:17 > 0:18:19so it's nice and straight.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22I think that looks good, are you happy?
0:18:22 > 0:18:25You get the chance to sort of contemplate them
0:18:25 > 0:18:30and marvel at the things that they're capable of.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33I mean, it can be quite humbling, really.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41When you work with these birds, obviously you don't want to try
0:18:41 > 0:18:45and anthropomorphise anything and, you know, get too attached.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48But they are, you know, special animals.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52They carry these trackers for us, almost sort of as volunteers.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54And, of course, we don't have a lot of information
0:18:54 > 0:18:55on where they go in winter
0:18:55 > 0:18:58so it's going to be a lovely new set of information
0:18:58 > 0:19:01from these particular birds from the Falklands.
0:19:01 > 0:19:02Back in Stanley,
0:19:02 > 0:19:06at the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Megan gets visual proof that their efforts have paid off -
0:19:09 > 0:19:12the trackers are working.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16A different line represents a different penguin, so you can see
0:19:16 > 0:19:21that we've had a lot of birds just heading east out of Bertha's Beach.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24What's really interesting is that we've also had one of them
0:19:24 > 0:19:26that's been heading out up to the north-east.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28And a lot of the exploratory work
0:19:28 > 0:19:30that's been done with the oil and gas
0:19:30 > 0:19:32has been to the north of the Falklands at the moment.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35And so what we might see is
0:19:35 > 0:19:39whether these penguins over this entire winter period, while
0:19:39 > 0:19:43we have the trackers out, whether they utilize that area as well.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Oil is important to the future of the Falkland Islands
0:19:47 > 0:19:50but so are all the other natural riches of this unique
0:19:50 > 0:19:52and unspoilt place,
0:19:52 > 0:19:56and preserving them remains the number one priority.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06It's eight o'clock in the evening, and over at the Town Hall,
0:20:06 > 0:20:08excitement is in the air.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12Tonight's the night, and May Ball Night 2014.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15Well, obviously you're sort of nervous - is there some
0:20:15 > 0:20:18little thing that you've forgotten about?
0:20:18 > 0:20:21That's going to suddenly... Oh, dear!
0:20:22 > 0:20:25This is the 22nd May Ball that Tim Miller
0:20:25 > 0:20:27and his wife, Jan, have organised.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31This is a real traditional dance here.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35It's been going on for... I don't know how many years, decades,
0:20:35 > 0:20:37and everybody likes it to be just so.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40And hopefully we've got it right.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42The guy with the black cowboy hat on,
0:20:42 > 0:20:45he's still wearing the tie that I lent him two years ago
0:20:45 > 0:20:46when he came without one.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51The Winter Ball is always really good.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53But this is a difference experience.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57The dresses are different and the dances, so it's really good.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00The girls still get excited about it.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05I got my nails done and my hair, and my aunt did my make-up.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09Yes, I had my turn, can't remember which year, a long time ago, though.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14But I think I always get excited about the May Ball.
0:21:14 > 0:21:15Really do.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21The party is going with a swing, so it's time to get down to the serious
0:21:21 > 0:21:25business of electing this year's May Queen and her Prince Charming.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27The ballgoers all get a vote.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31So each one's given a pink slip for the May Queen
0:21:31 > 0:21:33and a blue slip for Prince Charming
0:21:33 > 0:21:36and then they can vote for whoever they want to win.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38But there are also three mystery judges
0:21:38 > 0:21:41chosen by Tim for their impartiality.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46You will see the girls dancing waltzes, foxtrots,
0:21:46 > 0:21:48quick steps, sambas...
0:21:48 > 0:21:51We will ask you to give several choices.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Stanley is such a small place
0:21:53 > 0:21:58that you very soon get to know... not just your next-door neighbours,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01but you get to know, you know,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04all the people in the shops, in the pubs.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08Within a few months, you will know pretty well everybody in Stanley
0:22:08 > 0:22:10and they will all know you as well.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13That's why it's important to get newcomers as judges.
0:22:13 > 0:22:18You will just identify them to us by "the girl with the red dress"
0:22:18 > 0:22:23and "this colour shoe" and that sort of thing.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Everyone throws themselves into the dancing, hoping to impress
0:22:28 > 0:22:31the mystery judges and each other.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34By the end of the evening, all the votes have been cast
0:22:34 > 0:22:36and it's up to Jan to supervise the count.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41I'm not too sure on the girls so far - the piles look a bit even.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44- 15.- And this is...- Seven.
0:22:45 > 0:22:50OK, ladies and gentlemen, we are going to do the gentleman first.
0:22:50 > 0:22:56The Prince Charming for 2014 is...
0:22:57 > 0:22:58..Mr Jack Ford.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06OK, it gives me great pleasure to announce
0:23:06 > 0:23:10the May Queen for 2014...
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Miss...Kayleigh Anderson.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21The Falkland Islands have a new May Queen.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25For 15-year-old Kayleigh, it's been a fantastic evening.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28'Well, I just expected to come here and dance and have fun'
0:23:28 > 0:23:31and then, I won.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35She's very bubbly, very bouncy, and she was just really in there
0:23:35 > 0:23:38and dancing all the dances and having so much fun.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Some people might think it's a little bit sort of old-fashioned
0:23:41 > 0:23:43and quaint what we've been doing tonight,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46but, in the Falklands, we value our traditions and our heritage.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48You know, we're really proud of them
0:23:48 > 0:23:49and this is one of...
0:23:49 > 0:23:52a good old tradition that we really like to keep going.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02On Mount Pleasant military base,
0:24:02 > 0:24:06Padre Ian is preparing for another pastoral visit.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08The base has its own primary school
0:24:08 > 0:24:11and he's been asked to take the morning assembly,
0:24:11 > 0:24:14and Grandpa's going along as well.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16Right, so, Grandpa, we're going to go to the school today
0:24:16 > 0:24:18and we're going to meet the children.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20I want you to be on your best behaviour.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23"OK!" Mm, right, come on, let's get you in the bag.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27I think Grandpa's quite unique in what he brings to the party
0:24:27 > 0:24:31and so I'm hoping they'll be looking forward to seeing him today.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42There are a number of people
0:24:42 > 0:24:45who are down here on 12-month plus tours
0:24:45 > 0:24:48and they're eligible to bring their families with them.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52And so we have not only serving personnel and contractors
0:24:52 > 0:24:54but we also have a community,
0:24:54 > 0:24:57and part of my role is to look out for the community.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00I enjoy going into the school and working with the children there.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05So I'll do an assembly each week because everybody,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08whether you're staff, child, serving personnel,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11we're all 8,000 miles away from people we love.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24So, it's good to see you all again.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27And I've been thinking about what to talk about today.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29And while I was sitting in my office
0:25:29 > 0:25:31thinking about what to share with you today,
0:25:31 > 0:25:35a friend of mine just had a chat and he said he wanted to come along too.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39We don't want to disturb him too much.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43There he is. Oh, dear, he's fast asleep.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46OK, so, I think if I count to three, we can wake Grandpa up.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49OK? One, two, three...
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Wake up, Grandpa!
0:25:55 > 0:25:59OK, maybe a little bit louder this time, OK? One, two, three...
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Wake up, Grandpa!
0:26:03 > 0:26:06OK, I think we're just going to have to go for it this time, OK?
0:26:06 > 0:26:08Are you ready? One, two, three...
0:26:08 > 0:26:10WAKE UP, GRANDPA!
0:26:10 > 0:26:13"Goodness me!" Yes, OK, Grandpa. Where do you think we are then?
0:26:13 > 0:26:16"We're in the school!" We're in the school, yes, that's right.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18What did you want to share with the children?
0:26:18 > 0:26:21"My friend Albert is coming."
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Ooh, well, Grandpa, did he tell you that he was
0:26:24 > 0:26:27frightened about getting on the aeroplane?
0:26:27 > 0:26:31"Yes, he did." OK, so what did you do when he told you that?
0:26:31 > 0:26:35"I laughed." Oh, OK, well that's not very kind, is it?
0:26:35 > 0:26:37Did you say anything to him?
0:26:37 > 0:26:39"Yes." What did you say to him?
0:26:39 > 0:26:42"I said, 'Scaredy, scaredy custard.'"
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Oh, dear, Grandpa!
0:26:46 > 0:26:48"You smell like mustard."
0:26:48 > 0:26:49Oh!
0:26:51 > 0:26:54It's really nice when they come into school and do assembly
0:26:54 > 0:26:56and they get to know the kids really well.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58We're in a very adult environment here, so whilst
0:26:58 > 0:27:00a lot of people do go out of their way
0:27:00 > 0:27:03to put on things for children and support them,
0:27:03 > 0:27:05often the padre coming into school
0:27:05 > 0:27:08and doing assembly for the children
0:27:08 > 0:27:11is something really focused at them every week and
0:27:11 > 0:27:15is on that child level, so I think the padres enjoy that as well.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19And what do you think Grandpa should show Albert in the Falklands?
0:27:19 > 0:27:20You could show him Bertha's Beach.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Bertha's beach! Now what's on Bertha's beach?
0:27:23 > 0:27:24Penguins!
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Penguins! What do you think, Grandpa? "I guess so."
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Yeah, I mean, I think that's a really good idea. "Yes."
0:27:30 > 0:27:31'They seem to like Grandpa
0:27:31 > 0:27:35'and they're open to anything you've got to share with them.'
0:27:35 > 0:27:37I do miss my own children
0:27:37 > 0:27:40and certainly seeing children there in school uniform -
0:27:40 > 0:27:43my daughter is in primary school today, she'll be wearing
0:27:43 > 0:27:47her uniform, she'll be having an assembly, and part of me does
0:27:47 > 0:27:51think of her particularly while we're going through this, yeah.
0:27:51 > 0:27:52And what did you think of Grandpa?
0:27:52 > 0:27:54He's funny.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56I thought it was epic.
0:27:56 > 0:28:02Very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very funny.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07Next time, the Reverend Richard joins the Scouts
0:28:07 > 0:28:11on a trip to commemorate the battle of Mount Tumbledown.
0:28:12 > 0:28:18It's a very hands-on, a very real, tangible thing that they do to
0:28:18 > 0:28:21honour the people who are remembered by those plaques and that cross.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27And the new governor and his wife get settled in to Government House
0:28:27 > 0:28:30and prepare for the arrival of an important family member.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32Wonderful to have her here.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34She's sailed over half the world to get to us.