Simple directory > Regional > Ascension

Country : Ascension Official name: Ascension Island Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor David J Hollamby (since Jun 1999) (resides in St Helena) Head of government: Administrator of Ascension Island Andrew Michael Kettlewell (from Sep 2002) (the first Ascension Island government was established in Apr 2001) Area: 88 square km Population: 1,100 (2004) Capital: Georgetown Official language: English Currency: Pound sterling (£) = 100 pence Exchange rate: £0.54 per US$ (Nov 2004)

 

Historical profile

1501 Ascension Island was sighted by the Portuguese mariner Juan da Nova.

1815 The UK took possession (on Napoleon's exile to St Helena) and established a garrison.

1823 Responsibility for the island was taken over by the Admiralty Board until 1922, when it became a dependency of St Helena.

1922–64 The island was managed by the Eastern Telegraph Company (renamed Cable and Wireless in 1934).

1942 The US constructed a military airstrip by arrangement with the UK government and the island became an important transit point on the South African route between 1943–45.

1957 A US presence was re-established with the extension of the Eastern Test Range, and in 1967, a Nasa tracking station was built (since closed).

1964 In view of plans to establish BBC and Composite Signals Organisation (CSO) stations, an administrator was appointed.

1982 The island was re-garrisoned during the Falklands War and Ascension Island remains the intermediate stop for Royal Air Force (RAF) flights from the UK to the Falkland Islands.

1999 Geoffrey Fairhurst became the administrator of Ascension Island.

2001 The first Ascension Island government was established.

2002 Andrew Michael Kettlewell was appointed administrator.

2004 Ascension Island is hoping to increase its population by building new homes. From April, the Ascension Island Base is the new name for the RAF base: command of RAF Ascension Island has been transferred from Headquarters Strike Command, based at RAF High Wycombe, to the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ), Northwood, London.

 

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