WISH YOU WERE THERE? FAMILY SET FOR LIFE ON REMOTE ISLAND

Derby Telegraph 27^th June 2013

Belper, Derbyshire

Sarah, Tim and daughter Lucy

St. Helena

Location map

A FAMILY have swapped life in landlocked Derbyshire to live and work on one of the most remote islands in the world.

Tim and Sarah Troman, along with their two-year-old daughter, Lucy, have left behind their Belper home and are on their way to Saint Helena - a British territory in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, 1,200 miles off the coast of Africa.

They are moving there because Sarah has secured a job as capital programme manager, overseeing projects that improve the island’s infrastructure.

At present, the island is only accessible by boat and one of the projects she will work on is the creation of an airstrip.

In the past, Sarah has been involved with regeneration projects in Derby through her work with now defunct regeneration company Derby Cityscape.

The Tromans have already started their journey to the island, where they will be joining a population of just over 4,200 people.

But because Saint Helena has no airport, they have had to travel on an RAF flight to Ascension Island - another remote British territory island in the South Atlantic.

From there, the family will take a boat trip on HMS St. Helena{15} to their final destination.

Once there, they will live on the island for two years, which means Tim and Susan have both had to quit their jobs back in Derbyshire.

Sarah worked for Derby City Council and Tim was sales director of Alfreton-based manufacturing firm Amberol.

Sarah said: “It was sad to say goodbye to everybody. I enjoyed my time working in regeneration in Derby.”

“I hope when we next come back for a visit lots of projects will be completed or well under way.”

“It feels pretty strange to leave but now that most of our stuff is on a container ship headed for Cape Town, there’s no going back!”

Before embarking on the trip, Tim, who was Amberol’s first employee when he joined the firm in 1983, said he would miss his colleagues.

He said: “While the Saint Helena project is a fantastic opportunity, I will miss the staff at Amberol who have become friends as well as colleagues. They are like extended family.”

Amberol’s marketing director, John Williamson, said: “We were sorry to see Tim go after so many years.”

“He has played a crucial role in the company’s growth. We wish him and his family all the best in this exciting new phase of his life.”

Tim will be spending his time on Saint Helena looking after daughter Lucy, while Sarah works on the 47-square-mile island.

Discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, Saint Helena is perhaps most famous for being home to Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile in the 19^th century.

Because of the island’s remoteness, the Tromans will keep in touch with friends and family via the internet.

Tim has started a blog called Tim’s Just Like Living In Paradise, where he has so far been describing life on Ascension Island and posting pictures.

In one of his most recent posts, Tim wrote: “The first thing that hits you is the heat but I guess we will get used to that.”

“The island initially doesn’t look that attractive but as you spend more time wandering around it is quite beautiful and the beaches are stunning, although the sea is not safe to swim in due to the strong currents.”

“The overriding factor here is just how friendly everyone is. Literally you spend all day waving at complete strangers.”