Falkland Islanders are predominantly of British descent. Family names such as Felton, Biggs and Watson originate from settlers who arrived in Stanley in the 1840's. However, the telephone book lists names such as Hansen, Anderson and Berntsen - relatives of Scandinavian settlers brought to the South Atlantic in whaling fleets.

Stanley, built on a sheltered north facing harbour, has the air of a Scottish coastal town but has expanded rapidly in recent years as new houses and roads have been constructed to accommodate the drift of Islanders from the farms to the town.

Everywhere outside Stanley is known as "the Camp". (Camp comes from the Spanish word for countryside.) Camp life retains many of the cattle rearing traditions from South American gauchos who worked vast tracks of land in the 1850's.

Place names such as Tranquilidad, Laguna Isla and Dos Lomas abound and horse terms still include bosals and maletas (halters and saddle bags).

But we don't want you thinking that we have not moved on. Whilst our roots may be firmly secured by tradition, we now have a modern and vibrant community living and working in its own unique way in this beautiful part of the world. You won't find a McDonalds here but you will find lots to do and see, all with a distinctive Falkland Islands character (why not visit the website of our own R&B band The Fighting Pigs to see what we mean?).

If you want to find out more about us, please contact jettycentre@horizon.co.fk or visit www.shackletonfund.com to learn about cultural exchange scholarships.

You could also visit the UK Falkland Islands Trust site. The Falkland Islands Trust is a UK registered charity formed in 1981 which is dedicated to assisting the Islands population through beneficial projects that would not normally receive government funding.

Some other great online resources include life in the Islands and the Dictionary of Falklands Biographies site.