Couple leave Sussex village for the Falklands

Mark and Ursula Brunet have moved more than 8,000 miles from Newick to set up home in one of the furtherest-flung British colonial outposts.

Mr Brunet said: 'This is a beautiful country - you can feel really close to nature here - and aware of the power of wind and sea, too!

'The whole country is about the same population as Newick (the Falklands population was just over 3,000 at the last census compared to an estimated 2,500 in Newick), and Stanley has about the same number of shops, churches, restaurants - although a couple of extra pubs.

'Meat and fish are really cheap, and the local beef is the best I've ever eaten.

'We are already keen gardeners and that really is the best way to get fresh vegetables.'

Mr Brunet said he was still trying to get used to some of the differences of living in the southern hemisphere.

'Seasons are out of kilter' and the sun is in the 'wrong place', but he said the well-documented patriotism of the Falkland Islanders meant he was never too far away from a Union Flag or Flag of St George.

He said: 'The cheers for the Queen on her birthday (an official holiday on the island) were truly deafening and, despite the wind, there are more flags flying than I think I have seen in the whole of Sussex.'

When pushed for answer about what he misses about the old country he did not opt for the beauty of the South Downs or Harveys bitter, but rather the Anglo/Asian tastes of home.

He said: 'I miss the Newick Tandoori and being able to hug my children who stayed in England to work and study.

'I also miss not being able to do things we didn't do anyway - like go to London to see shows - but it is different knowing you can't, even if you wouldn't!

'I don't miss the traffic, the red tape and nanny state.'

Mr Brunet was formerly a director of the Gatwick Diamond Enterprise Hub and is now the general manager of the Falkland Islands Development Corporation and is using his skills to help the economic development of the islands.