MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Tribute and thanks to Falklands champion.
Merle Christie's half a century service
A long-serving champion of the Falkland Islands in the campaign to protect British sovereignty has announced her retirement from the Falkland Islands Association Executive Committee. Mrs Merle Christie has worked tirelessly for the Falklands' cause for more than half a century. Even now, at the aged of 81, her expertise will not be lost. She is continuing to compile and catalogue the Association's unique archives.
During the 1982 war, she was a vital member of the small-knit team which ran the swiftly-formed Falkland Islands Committee office in London, presenting the Falklands' case and explaining the intricacies of the conflict to politicians, journalists and others and countering Argentine propaganda.
She worked alongside her late husband, Bill Hunter-Christie, who was awarded the freedom of Stanley, Sukey Cameron, now Falklands Government representative in London, and the late Wing Commander Brian Frow, a 1939-1945 war hero who became Director General of the Association.
With Sukey's family and others, including Islanders, they provided a 24 hour service at the only real focal point of information about the Islands in what proved to be a very important and successful operation.
In a tribute to her at the Association's annual meeting (on Saturday, 8th December), Ted Clapp, another veteran of the Association, recalled that Merle Christie's first involvement with the Falklands was as far back as 1948 to 1949 when she helped Bill Hunter-Christie , to write his book, " The Antarctic Problem".
With the creation of the Falkland Islands Emergency Committee in 1968, their home became the centre for meetings, receptions, parties, dinners and general planning events, all of them making use of Merle's organisational, catering and typing skills.
After the conflict, Merle continued to run the office as Honorary General Secretary until 1995, when she became a Committee member and the Association's archivist.
Ted Clapp remarked that from 1948 to 2003 is a long time to serve the interests of the people of the Falkland Islands. He paid tribute to her for her knowledge, her personality and stamina.
Merle Christie was loudly applauded when the Association Chairman, Sir Rex Hunt, in recognition of her long service, presented her with a polished wood panel inset with a brass clock, thermometer and barometer/ hygrometer. To loud applause, the Association unanimously elected her a Vice-President of the Organisation.
Harold Briley, London
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