týsdagur 1. apríl 2003síða 14

26 Nr. 79 - 26. apríl 2003 Nr. 79 - 26. apríl 2003 27 C M Y K 27 26 HUGLEIÐING By Louis Wilson As the evening drew to a close with the guests sing- ing the national anthem with pride and passion, one had the feeling that this gathering on 18 February at the Danish Embassy was the occasion when the Faro- ese community in the UK has come of age. John Rajani the newly appointed as representative in Britain had invited Faro- ese people living in the UK as well as those with Faro- ese connections to a func- tion at the Danish Embassy in London where he is bas- ed. A chance for John to meet members of the Faro- ese community and also for them to get to know him. A wonderfully varied pro- gramme had been arrang- ed. As well as being a so- cial occasion the intention was that the evening should be informative for every- one. The talks and film about the future Oil Indust- ry in the Faroe Islands cer- tainly gave everyone food for thought. Eyðun Eltor the Oil Minister set the tone for the evening with a fasci- nating wide-ranging speech which included elements of history, philosophy, poetry as well as the spiritual. De- livered with his customary charm it had the audience captivated. The talks by Runi Han- sen and Heralvur Joensen were of necessity more technical. These together with the film gave every- one an appreciation of the mechanics of Oil explo- ration and exactly what progress has been made in Faroese waters. And one can only be impressed by the preparations that have already been made. To take one example the achieve- ment in drawing up a whole new body of law to regulate the operations of Oil In- dustry where nothing exist- ed before. Jan Muller gave a thought- provoking speech about the challenges that Faroese So- ciety faced in accommodat- ing the coming Oil Indust- ry. He was confident that the instinctive patriotism of Faroese people working in the Oil Industry would safeguard against the Oil Companies doing anything detrimental to the national interest. Following the speeches, everyone was free to enjoy the buffet. A feast of mouth- watering Faroese speciali- ties imported direct from SMS was laid out. There was skerpikjot, rullupylsur, turran fisk, drylur as well as dried grind and spik. And to wash it down, there were plentiful supplies of Restorff’s Mungat beer kindly provided by Johan Mortensen. We were also treated to a musical interlude with Teit- ur Lassen and Sigrid Rasmussen singing some beautiful melodies. One could appreciate the talent which has earned Teitur such a lucrative recording contract. The atmosphere was fest- ive and the conversation amongst the 70 or so people who attended was animated. A whole cross section of the Faroese com- munity in the UK was re- presented. There were the war brides including Nico- lena Prince whose story of coming to the UK was told in the book »Karleikur und- ir krignum«. There were al- so other ladies who married British men somewhat after coming to the UK as Au Pair Girls in the 50’s and 60’s. Then there were the confident young Faroese Professionals and Students who now find it just as natural to pursue their care- ers or studies in England as it was for their predeces- sors to look towards Den- mark. The newly-appointed seamans priest Hjørdis Kjaergaard, who has been given responsibility as a pastor for the Faroese com- munity in the UK, travelled down from Hull for the oc- casion. Also present was the »Grand Old Man« Sofus Poulsen himself who repre- sented the Faroe Islands with such tireless energy and distinction in the years since the Second World War. Sofus has now stepp- ed down after over 50 years in Aberdeen to hand over to John. He became establish- ed almost as a towering landmark on the North East Coast of Scotland to whom Faroese people could turn for help, advice and assist- ance. But times change and the focus of Faroese inte- rests in the UK has moved south to London. The great days evoked in »Tevatn og Breyð« of Faroese ships landing Ice Fish in Aber- deen are long gone. The connection provided by Smyril was abruptly termi- nated. Oil and the related Atlantic Airways service remain but London is the place where political and economic decisions are made in the UK. Hence the vital importance of the Faroe Islands being repre- sented there. A common theme for older generation of Faroese was the struggle to hang onto their identity and links with their homeland in the most difficult of circum- stances. Travelling home in the 50’s and 60’s involved either long expeditions by sea via Denmark or Shet- land or the hit and miss af- fair of trying to arrange passage on a Faroese trawl- er which had landed in a British Port. Connections between Faroese people in the UK were fragmented. Although you might have your own circle of friends there was no Foroyinga- felag to bring everyone to- gether. It would be difficult to talk of there being a Faroese community in any meaningful sense. After the event on 18 February you have the feel- ing that a transformation has been completed. One had the unmistakeable im- pression of people collective- ly celebrating their identity and culture right in the middle of the great World City of London. And there was a quiet pride in seeing that there is now a new gene- ration of young, self-confi- dent and capable Faroese professionals like those shaping the coming Faroese Oil Industry and indeed John Rajani himself who can hold their own with anyone in the World. With John in place as an »Am- bassador« there is a sense that the Faroese have final- ly achieved the same status as other nationalities who have an Embassy as a link with their homeland and a base for social functions and cultural activities. In this context the sight we hope to see soon of the Faroese flag flying in Sloane Street takes on a huge symbolic value. On a personal note, I could not but help reflect how much has improved since 1993 when I joined hands with Marjun Joensen King and Olavur Rasmus- sen to form the Faroe Islands Solidarity Commit- tee (FISC). The Pilot Whale Campaign had been launch- ed in London with the in- tention of »bringing the Faroe Islands to its knees«. They had mobilised mass- ive resources to achieve this end and even seemed to have the tacit encourage- ment of the British Govern- ment. At that time the Faroe Islands seemed to have very few friends in posi- tions of influence in Lon- don – even the Danish Em- bassy ignored our letters. We felt very much isolated and alone when we started our fight back against the professional campaigners of the EIA, WDCS etc. It seemed very lonely at tim- es! Still we persevered with some success and one of our achievements was to bring together Faroese people in this country. However, with an official Representative now in place to look after Faroese interests and the develop- ment of a confident Faroese community how much bett- er the Faroe Islands is now placed to deal with this type of threat if it should ever re-occur. Føroyingar í Bretlandi: Frá Poulsen í Aberdeen til Rajani í London Sum næstu grannar hava føroyingar og bretar hava tætt tilknýti og sam- band gjøgnum øldir. Hetta hevur ikki minst gjørt seg galdandi á fiski- vinnuøkinum. Bretsk fiskiskip hava vunnið sær manga úrtøkuna við at veiða undir Føroyum, og føroyskar skipsmanningar hava lagt manga last upp í bretskum havnum. Í mong ár hevur verið føroysk umboðs- stova í Aberdeen, men henda varð løgd niður herfyri fyri at verða latin uppaftur í London. Farið var frá tí gamla veteraninum Sofus Poulsen til tann unga og nýggja umboðsmannin John Rajani, sum í dag hevur sæti á donsku sendistov- uni í London. Fyrr í ár varð skipað fyri sam- komu fyri føroy- ingum í Bretlandi á donsku sendistov- uni í London. Um- leið 80 føroyingar og bretar møttu til hesa óføru hugnaløtu, sum eisini var ein kunning um nýggjastu oljutil- gongdina í Føroyum. Ein av teimum, sum seinastu mongu árini hevur verið sum eitt slag føroyskum umboði í Bretlandi, tá tað snýr seg um at kunna um Føroyar og her serliga grindadráp, er Louis Wilson. Sonur Honnu og Harry Wilson í Hull. Louis hevur saman við øðrum føroying- um manna felagsskapin »Faroe Island Solidarity Committee«, ið hevur roynt at kunna bretar um grindadráp í eini tíð, har umhvørvisfelags- skapir hava roynt at breiða út ósann- indi um grinda- dráp. Louis Wilson var við til føroyska hugnakvøldið í Lon- don í februar. Og hevur hann sent blaðnum hesa hug- leiðing um tað góða kvøldið. Ungdómurin var væl umboðaður á Føroyakvøldinum. Mynd: Jan Müller Sofus Poulsen, fyrrv. føroyski umboðsmaðurin í Aberdeen saman við Helga Joensen. Mynd: Jan Müller Sigrid og Teitur settu sín dám á Mynd: Jan Müller John Rajani, sum nú hevur tikið yvir stóru ábyrdina at vera føroyskur umboðsmaður fyri alt Stórabretland. Mynd: Jan Müller Louis Wilson, sum mangan hevur verið føroyingum og Føroyum góður í ráðum, her við ein av stóru fiskadiskunum á stórari handilsmiðstøð í London Mynd: Jan Müller Undirtøkan til føroyakvøldið í London herfyri var stór. Mynd: Jan Müller