MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands Trust Changes

Falkland Islands Trust ChangesTwo New Trustees: Farewell to Doris Dodson

Two new trustees have been appointed by the United Kingdom Falkland Island TrustThe new Falklands trustee, unanimously approved at a meeting of the UKFIT in London, is Mrs Marlane Marsh of Shallow Harbour Farm. She replaces the late Robin Lee of Port Howard, who died last year after serving many years as a trustee. Mrs Marsh, from a well-known farming family, is an enthusiastic supporter of rural development. She was proposed by the other Falklands trustee, Tim Miller.

The new United Kingdom trustee is Mr Hugh Normand, now back in Britain after several years as Manager of the Falkland Islands Development Corporation.The trustees said a fond farewell to the Trust's administrative secretary, Mrs Doris Dodson, on her retirement, holding a special lunch for her and her husband at Simpson's- in- the-Strand Restaurant. Tributes were paid for her long service with the Trust, to which she was recruited by founder Chairman, Major General Nigel Gribbon in 1985, having previously worked at the UK Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

The new honorary treasurer taking over the accounts from Mrs Dodson is Brian Hill. He makes up a husband and wife team involved in administration of both the Falkland Islands Trust and its offshoot, the Shackleton Scholarship Fund, where Mrs Penny Hill is administrative secretary. They spent several years in the Falklands, staying on for two years longer when Mr Hill retired after five years as Director of Public Works. Mrs Hill was a legal secretary. "Having derived so much pleasure from our time in the Islands", says Mrs Hill, "we wanted to give something back to the Falklands by way of our time. We loved the life and considered ourselves incredibly lucky to have landed in a marvellously unspoilt part of the planet and have masses of vivid memories of individual people, scenery, flora and fauna".

Welcoming Mr Hill's offer to be honorary treasurer, the UKFIT chairman, Air Commodore Peter Johnson, said it would significantly cut spending on administration and the annual audit. It coincides with a drop in the Fund's investment as a result of falling share prices.

Air Commodore Johnson reported on a useful meeting with the Falklands Government Chief Executive, Dr Michael Blanch, and a messag