dfb Dictionary of Falklands Biography Project

Letter from the Editor

It is nearly two years since the DFB website was first opened, and once more I thank our webmaster Stefan Heijtz for maintaining and updating our site.

I now have over 215 completed essays in four ring-books ready for publication with more contributions coming in almost daily by post or e-mail. A new development has been the production of Group Essays, covering groups of people who were significant in Falklands history, but are not sufficiently well known to rate individual essays. The Groups include the First Discoverers, the Military Pensioners of 1849 (often referred to wrongly as the Chelsea Pensioners!), the Tabaris Highlanders of 1939 and the Condor Group of hijackers of 1966.

There are still 62 "orphans" &endash; that is subjects who have yet to attract an author. I urge visitors to the website to look at this list &endash; Authors Wanted &endash; and consider whether there is anyone they would be prepared to write up. Alternatively if you know of anyone who you think would be interested please let me know and I can approach them.

In January and February 2006 I am visiting the Islands to follow up research in the Archives and to see if I can recruit additional authors for the "orphans". All the writing will have to be completed by the end of 2006, to allow time for printing to coincide with the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the invasion of 1982, when I judge interest in the history of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia will be at a peak.

The website now contains the latest versions of the Alphabetical List of subjects and the "Working List" which gives the names of contributors assigned to particular subjects and notes whether or not their contribution has been received.

The project has received additional financial help this year from the Shackleton Scholarship Fund (£371) and from Falkland Islands Councillors (£500). This has enabled me to cover the costs of stationary and postage, and I am very grateful.

Grateful too to all the contributors who have written in from all over the world with biographical essays, suggestions, comments and illustrations.

I believe the Dictionary of Falklands Biography really will prove to be history of the people, by the people, for the people.

David Tatham

Editor 1 December 2005