Isles of Scilly 2006 quiz

[bookwormer]

Did most of this quiz while we were there this summer, but stuck on these, wondered if anyone out there knows the Scillies wll enough to help!

1.In what year was the Isles of Scilly Bird Group founded?

2.In Old Town Cemetery you will find the grave of Canadian fighter pilot T.B. Hunter. What unfortunate accident led to his death in WW2?

3. Named after a mythical beast (grows wild on Scilly)

4. Which bird, which is common on the mainland, is currently present on the islands for only the third time in 100 years?

[bridgenut]

Doesn't give the exact year , but under the Chairman's welcome it mentions that it is in it's 3rd. year with references to 2001 further down - so imagine it is a fairly new organisation . Hope that's of some help to you .
http://www.scillybirding.co.uk/

[bookwormer]

Thanks bridgenut, I had seen that site, but as you say it doesn't give exact year, but I did wonder if it was 2001, I was just suprised that it wasn't older,as the islands are renowned for theiir bird watching etc.

[ontarioice]

Phoenix palms grow on Scilly, but I don't know if they actually grow wild.
I've queried your number 2 with ex RCAF buddy, but don't hold your breath.
Cheers

[bookwormer]

Thank you so much ontarioice, both for the Phoenix palms answer, and for trying to get the answer to no. 2 via a RCAF friend!!! there is still plenty of time left for the quiz, a good couple of months, so if you can get any info on the Canadian pilot's death it would absolutely fantastic!!! Many thanks again.

[ontarioice]

I haven't forgotten you, but my RCAF friend isn't having much luck re T B Hunter. There is a T B Hunter's name on the Canadian memorial near Windsor he tells me. That doesn't make a tie in with the Scilly Isles and doesn't help you much. He's as curious as I am now so I hope he finds the answer for you.

[bookwormer]

Thank you so much for the help so far, as you say it is intriguing! I will have to send the quiz in by the 10th November, I will hold it as long as I can!! I wil try and let you know the answer as even if we can't get it before hand after all your hard work it would be good to know the answer!!!!
Thanks again.

[ontarioice]

My hubby's RCAF pal wasn't having much luck so I tried the War Graves Commission and got the following reply:

Hi Joanne
I cannot find this casualty on our records. Do you know when he died?
Best wishes,
Emily

Emily Bird
Media (Publications and Information)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission


I don't suppose you have the date? I know time is running out, but we seem to be stymied at this end unless you can supply the date.
O-Ice

[bookwormer]

Ontarioice, I am so grateful that you have gone to so much bother so far on this, thank you so much! As to a date, the question doesn't mention a date at all, just what unfortunate accident led to his death in World War 2, so it seems that we have come to a standstill. When I send it in I will enclose a SAE for answers and will let you know on this thread how he died!! Even though answer sheet has to be in by 10 Nov it says winner notified by Christmas so I think it might not be an immediate reply. Many thaks again!!!

[ontarioice]

Herewith the email I received this morning. The mystery deepens.

Joanne,

The simple answer is that T B Hunter is NOT buried in Scilly Old Churchyard. Report of casualties buried there can be seen: http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_reports.as px?cemetery=36960&mode=1

As you can see, there is nobody who even comes close. A casualty who is commemorated on the Runnymede Air Forces Memorial (all Commonwealth, not just Canada) has no known grave. So if it is the same T B Hunter, who it must be as I can find no other matches on our database, he cannot be buried in Scilly. I have looked in our Bomber Command and Fighter Command books but have not been able to find any reference.
I�m afraid that this question may be unanswerable!
Best wishes,
Emily
Emily Bird
Media (Publications and Information)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[bookwormer]

As you say, the plot thickens!! I am really intrigued now. When we were there in the summer we spent hours walking around the cemetary looking, I really wish now that I had gone to see the vicar to see if he know where it was, but we left it in the end assuming he would be famous enough to find on the internet, obviously not!!! We will just have to see what answer comes back and then I could possibly ring the tourist information there and query it. I had thought of ringing them for help with the question, but as they are selling the quizzes it didn't seem right!
I will certainly let you know when I get the sheet back (don't think it will be before Christmas) I am just so impressed at your perseverence with this, and I am very grateful!

[bookwormer]

Ontarioice, have just received Isles of Scilly quiz back today, I didn't win, got a few wrong, but the answer to THE question was that the pilot T.B. Hunter, flew into the Scillonian (the ferry that goes over to the islands) when attempting to fly between the ship's mast! This information is probably in some obscure book about WW2 and the Isles of Scilly, but as to where his grave is in Old Town cemetary??? We are hoping to go again next summer, they really are beautiful islands, considering we're so close to Britain, so we will have to see if we can solve it!! Many thanks again for all your efforts, it was very good of you. Wishing you and family a very happy Christmas and a prosperous quizzing year.

[ontarioice]

Hi Bookwormer!
It's rather like one step forward and two steps back. I'm bearing in mind that the gal from the Canadian War Graves Commission wrote that he was NOT buried in the Isle of Scilly graveyard at all.
However, an interesting titbit re his 'high flying.'
I don't think I'll pass that along to Ms Emily Bird at the CWGC, but I certainly will be most interested to hear what you find out when you visit the islands again.
Thanks for your Christmas wishes and may I send to you and yours 'The Compliments of the Season.'
O-ice