MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Royal Tribute at Falklands Families Service

The Prince of Wales and Baroness Thatcher and other major political and military personalities involved in the 1982 Falklands War were guests of the Falkland Families Association with 200 other people at their special anniversary reunion, memorial service and annual general meeting (on Saturday April 27th).

The Prince of Wales, who is Colonel- in- Chief of the Paratroop Regiment and of the Welsh Guards, led those laying floral tributes at the Falklands Memorial in the beautiful Welsh Guards Chapel in London. The sermon was preached by the Reverend David Cooper, Padre to the Second Battalion of the Parachute Regiment in 1982, and a lesson was read by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Leach, former First Sea Lord and head of the Royal Navy, whose advice led to the formation of the Task Force and its liberation of the Islands.

The Falklands Government was represented by Councillor Jan Cheek and its London Representative, Miss Sukey Cameron, who laid a tribute on behalf of the Islands. Councillor Jan Cheek was presented to Prince Charles who met the Committee of the Association, family members and other guests in the Sergeants Mess at Wellington Barracks.

Baroness Thatcher, accompanied by her husband, Sir Dennis Thatcher, mingled with the families and stayed for lunch following the Reception.

Distinguished guests
Among the many distinguished guests were the Commander in Chief Fleet, Admiral Sir Alan West , Commander of HMS Ardent when she was sunk in 1982; Field Marshal Lord Bramall, Chief of the General Staff in 1982; Land Forces Commander Major General Sir Jeremy Moore, and his chief field commander, Major General Julian Thompson; Commodore Mike Clapp responsible for 1982 amphibious operations; Major General Sir Michael Scott; General Sir Michael Jackson; and Captain Scott Mason ? Captain of the Canberra in 1982. Three former commanders of British forces in the Falklands, Major General Iain McKay-Dick, Air Vice Marshal David Crwys-Williams and Major General Malcolm Hunt, and two former Governors , Sir Rex Hunt and William Fullerton, also attended.

The Prince of Wales asked Sukey Cameron how things were in the Falklands Islands and Baroness Thatcher expressed her desire to visit the Islands again at some point.

The Falkland Families Association Chairman, Mrs. Sara Jones, widow of Lieutenant Colonel H. Jones VC, killed at Goose Green, thanked the Falkland Islands Government for their generous donation of £2.000 which enabled them to host the occasion. Sukey Cameron then read out a message to the Association from the Governor of the Falklands, Mr Donald Lamont.

The Association also received a donation of £3.700 from a military young leaders' college in Harrogate in Yorkshire with links with the Association's President, Mr Des Keoghane, father of a Welsh Guardsman killed in 1982.

The sum represents the distance from Ascension Island to the Falklands, which the donors raised by covering the same mileage in their gymnasium.

Harold Briley, London