MY first Christmas card this year arrived by sea. It had taken three weeks to travel from an island in the South Atlantic and the postage stamp cost a mere 20p.

Maglan and John Noden have now settled in St Helena. They were well known in Malvern and in the word of folk music and frequently sang together.

I was especially pleased to receive a letter from Maglan, because this year St Helena celebrated 500 years of being a British colony. "Princess Dinuzulu", as Maglan is known on the island, is her proud title for her grandfather was a Zulu chieftain.

"John has his own radio programme now. I'm busy in charge of Old Island crafts," she writes.

People on the island still use open fires and candles because electric is so expensive.

MarGAREt Bramford, Redland Road, Malvern.