MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Editor's hopes for 2007 Dictionary publication.

FORMER Governor David Tatham hopes to publish his new book, which catalogues many historical and modern Falklands characters, in time for the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War.

David Tatham is presently in the Islands to work on the book, Dictionary of Falklands Biography, which will feature details of people of significance or interest connected with the Falkland Islands and with South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, starting with the discovery of the Falklands.

Mr Tatham got the idea for the project after reading the biography of the man who spotted German ships off the Falklands in 1914, written by Governor Henniker-Heaton.

Mr Tatham said the short account made him realise, "...there are a whole lot of Falklands names we don't know anything about - you only need to look at all the plaques in Christ Church Cathedral to realise that."

He said there are an "incredible" number of names of world significance who relate to the Falklands and South Georgia, including Charles Darwin, Captain Cook and Ernest Shackleton.

The criteria for inclusion in the Dictionary of Falklands Biography comes down to, "...if they have a good story and a Falklands link," and said the subjects are "rather diverse".

He said he chose to set the end year of the book at 1981 as he wanted to avoid the war: "There are too many outside people from then on; it would distort it as a Falklands history."

Of the 500 people who feature in the book, a small number are still alive and Mr Tatham has asked them to write their own biographies.

In addition there are a number of people who he refers to as "The Orphans". These are people for whom he does not yet have biographies and he hopes to find voluntary authors to cover these people. A list of the "The Orphans" is on page 19.

He said the "non-officials" featured in the book have proven hardest to research as, "...they are the people about whom nothing is found in written records."

Other ideas or suggestions are welcome, Mr Tatham says, "...as long as you write them up!" Before embarking on a biography, he asks authors to contact him: "I'll give guidance before they start so we can see what any problems may be."

He is also hoping to include an illustration with each entry and will be appealing for public assistance with this in the coming months.

Mr Tatham is in the Islands for a further month and can be contacted through the government's archives or at the home of Arlette Betts.(PN)