MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FIBS Breaking News.

Headlines:
Sir Rex Hunt; British Forces Falkland Islands; HMS Sheffield;Falkland Islands Defences Forces; EOD; Tourist.

Sir Rex Hunt

Former Governor Sir Rex Hunt has admitted that he was reduced to "crossing his fingers" for the Falklands future during the early days of the 1982 Conflict.

In an article to mark 25th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher's election as Prime Minster, Sir Rex told the Telegraph newspaper: "I think that what she did in 1982 was to put the 'Great' back into Great Britain. The British walk taller as a result. I was so pleased she said she was sending the Task Force. When the Argentinians packed me off, I was able to make a short speech and I told the islanders I would be back.

"But I did have my fingers crossed, because the belief in Whitehall was that if they invaded, we could not get the islands back."

He adds that he was "absolutely delighted" when Mrs Thatcher called him in Montevideo to tell him she had ordered the Task Force to set sail.

He says: "I know she wasn't very popular over here, but as far as the Falkland Islanders were concerned, there was only one politician in the world."

British Forces Falkland Islands

CBFFI is no more. From now on Air Commodore Richard Lacey will be going by the less catchy title of CBFSAI.

In fact the whole of British Forces Falkland Islands have undergone a name change, having officially taken Ascension Island under their wing, they will now be known as British Forces South Atlantic Islands, or BFSAI.

HMS Sheffield

The Commander of British Forces Air Commodore Richard Lacey was on Sea Lion Island yesterday for a memorial ceremony to remember those who died on board the HMS Sheffield during the Falklands War.

The Sheffield was sunk by an Exocet missile 40 miles south east of the Island on this day in 1982.

Commodore Lacey laid a wreath at the memorial, which lies on the south side of the island looking out to sea.

Falkland Islands Defences Forces

The FIDF were out on exercise over the weekend, with seven new recruits joining the rest of FIDF in the cold to show what they were made of and complete their initial training.

The new recruits faced ambushes, patrols, and ended with an attack on the old fuel depot on the Camber. EOD carried out a battle simulation but the Tornadoes they were expecting unfortunately didn't make it.

Major Pete Biggs said the recruits had done well.

Major Pete Biggs from the FIDF there. He also offered thanks to JCUFFI for providing an effective enemy during the exercise.

EOD

EOD had a few incidents to deal with over the weekend.

The FIDF made two finds on Friday while they were out on exercise at the Camber. At 8.48 in the morning they found an antipersonnel mine and a 51mm mortar. EOD were already out taking part in the exercise so they dealt with it.

Then at 3.09 in the afternoon an anti personnel mine was washed up on the beach between Stanley Airport and the tussac island. Again, EOD went to deal with the find.

Tourist

A cruise ship tourist who was medivacced to KEMH in February has died, in the US, having never recovered from his illness.

Harvey Mashinter, a retired college lecturer from Columbia died on Sunday morning at the age of 77.

His wife Marcella told her local newspaper The Daily News he had been suffering with angina and bronchial problems when she alerted the ship's doctor who advised her to get him transferred to KEMH.

Doctors there realised he needed more help and he was flown to Santiago for open heart surgery, followed by six other operations. But his health remained very poor and he died in a hospice near his home.

Marcella Mashinter recalls the trip to MPA in the article

It reads: "As the sky turned dark, the trip wound over gravel roads crowded by sheep and cows. ?We weren't in an ambulance, we were in a four wheeler'".

Mr Mashinter was recalled as a role model and a mento for his students and a man who made friends easily.