Support grows for Falklands Memorial Chapel

Tuesday, April 1st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

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Support for the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne College, Berkshire, has grown tremendously during the 20th anniversary year of the conflict.

A progress report and news about the Chapel are carried in its latest newsletter. In a letter to supporter, the chairman of the Chapel's trustees, former Royal Navy Captain Michael Barrow, commander of the destroyer HMS Glamorgan in 1982, says that they now number more than 2,000. Many have subscribed to various events and sponsorship opportunities.

Fund-raising activities brought in £10,000 (about 15,000 dollars) in recent months to help maintain the chapel. New initiatives for chapel funds, include a sponsored parachute jump by the Reverend David Cooper, padre of 2 Parachute Regiment during the 1982 campaign and now a Chapel Trustee, and a canoe trip from Devizes in Wiltshire to Westminster by former paratrooper, Bob Norbury, and his team mate, Justin Thacker, in the annual canoe and kayak race. Sponsorship forms are available, and new ideas are welcomed.

Falklands ?Yomp' postponed

A proposed yomp in the Falklands by Royal Marines and Paras has been postponed as there have been only two volunteers when 30 are needed to make it viable. Captain Barrow says that in view of the state of the world and the Armed Forces deployments it is not sure when this can take place.

A book about how the Chapel came to be built, entitled ?Just to See his Name' by the former headmaster of Pangbourne College, Doctor Anthony Hudson, has now sold 700 copies, leaving only 300 (which can be bought for ten pounds including post and packing). A video telling the Chapel story has also proved popular.

Visitors are requested to continue building the Stone Cairn in the ?Bring a Stone from Home' campaign, which was started off by the Queen. A 20th anniversary tapestry by Pamela Roberts, from Dorset, is on display in the Chapel.

Supporters are invited to become a ?Friend of the Chapel' by donating 25 pounds a year towards the upkeep of the Chapel to ?ensure that its heritage and condition are protected for the future.

Among events last year were the anniversary service in June attended by former Royal Navy helicopter pilot, the Duke of York, a Flower Guild Festival, a BBC televised Remembrance Service in November, and several concerts by Pangbourne Arts Society and Pangbourne Choral Society.

Former Archbishop to preach

Tickets are being distributed for the next anniversary service of remembrance on June 15th this year, at which the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, will preach. A special 25th anniversary service is planned for 2007, on the Sunday nearest to June 15th, the day the Falklands War ended.

There is also to be a charity gala in the College in November to raise funds for the Army Benevolent Fund, with participation by the Life guards Regimental Band, Berkshire Youth Choir, and Pangbourne College Music Scholars.

Information about the Chapel and how to support it is available from the Trust Secretary, Angela Perry, and from the Chapel website at www.falklands-chapel.org.uk

Harold Briley,(MP) London

Categories: Falkland Islands.

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