MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update

As it passes the 1982 Liberation Monument, the hearse carrying Mr Peck's coffin is saluted by Privates Craig Paice and Zoran Zuvic of the Falkland Islands Defence Force.

Headlines:
Quiet farewell for local hero; Royal programme revealed; New Year's Honours; Planning begins for ferry terminals,
Cruise ships this week.

Quiet farewell for local heroTHE Falklands has bid farewell to a man regarded by many as a hero for his actions during the 1982 conflict. Following a battle with cancer, Terry Peck MBE CPM passed away on December 30. A former Chief of Police and twice elected as a member of Legislative Council, in 1982 Mr Peck fought in the battle for Mt Longdon alongside members of the Third Battalion, Parachute Regiment. He was Chairman of the Falklands branch of the South Atlantic Medal Association for four years. A gathering was held in memory of Mr Peck at the FIDF Hall on Wednesday and attended by around two hundred and fifty people; as a mark of respect, government flags were flown at half-mast throughout the day. Royal programme revealed HER Royal Highness, The Princess Royal arrives in the Falklands next week, accompanied by her husband, Rear Admiral Timothy Laurence. Princess Anne will call in for three days on her way to Antarctica. She will visit Chile after her Antarctic trip. Gilbert House this week revealed the Royal visitor's programme, which begins on Friday, January 12. After meeting members of the Armed Forces based at Mount Pleasant and on board HMS Dumbarton Castle, Princess Anne will travel to Fitzroy to lay a wreath at the RFA and Welsh Guards Memorials. She will then head to Stanley. On Saturday she will visit penguin and albatross colonies on Saunders Island and meet West Falklands residents at the Social Club at Hill Cove. She will return to Stanley that afternoon and attend a Civic Reception hosted by the government in the Town Hall, beginning at 4pm. Tickets for the reception will be available from Gilbert House on a 'first come first served' basis from 10am today (Friday). On Sunday, January 14, The Princess Royal will lay a wreath at the Liberation Monument before attending a church service and youth reception at the Cathedral. She will tour the Fishery Patrol Vessel Pharosthat afternoon, then attend a lunch at the Lighthouse Seamen's Centre. Her final afternoon will be spent meeting representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Tourist Board and Falklands Conservation and she will visit the Government Archives. She is due to depart for Antarctica aboard the British Antarctic Survey Dash-7 aircraft on the morning of Monday, January 15. New Year's Honours POPULAR art teacher Mirabelle 'Tim' Simpson has been awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours list. Mrs Simpson, who is due to retire from the Community School at the end of next term, says she was "pretty excited but shocked" when told she was to receive the honour in recognition of her work in education and charities in the Falkland Islands. She is not planning to collect her medal from the Queen at Buckingham Palace - "it's an awfully long way" - and instead hopes to receive it from the Governor at a reception at Government House. "That way I can invite some friends along too." Also in the New Year's Honours, Tim Carr, former Curator of the South Georgia Museum was awarded the MBE for his work in South Georgia and Mr Ian Thomson, Director of Argos Georgia Ltd, was awarded the OBE for his work in South Georgia and Antarctic Fisheries. Planning begins for ferry terminals A REPORT dealing with infrastructure issues for the cross sound ferry terminals is to be prepared by the Director of Public Works. Last month Executive Council gave approval for the government to enter into a formal contract with Workboat Services Limited for the provision of coastal shipping and the cross sound ferry service; now, the Chief Executive this week said, there is "a great deal of work" to be done to prepare the infrastructure for the ferry. Chris Simpkins commented, "No reliable estimates of cost are yet available, not least because options require examination and solutions designed. "Nothing is yet finally agreed but, on the East, the permanent terminal is still likely to be at Newhaven but a temporary solution at another location is being examined to enable the ferry to operate whilst design and construction is completed. It will not be possible to construct a permanent facility this season." Late last year, Penguin Newsreported that the Port Howard jetty was being considered as the final site for the terminal, despite the government having already built a road to Second Creek, south of Port Howard settlement. Mr Simpkins this week said the West Falkland terminal will be at Port Howard, "...but the precise location has not yet been agreed pending the report to the Transport Advisory Committee." Cruise ships this week NEW ISLAND and Carcass Island will both receive visits from two cruise ships today (Friday). They are expecting MV Grigoriy Mikheev and Clipper Adventurer, with approximately 44 and 122 passengers respectively. Norwegian Crown will visit Stanley today with around 1,050 passengers and Grigoriy Mikheev and Clipper Adventurerwill both head to Stanley tomorrow. On Sunday, Clipper Adventurer will visit Sea Lion Island and Bleaker Island while The World (with around 650 passengers) will be in Stanley. Hanseaticwill visit New Island and Carcass Island. On Monday, The World will call at Bleaker Island while Hanseatic will visit Stanley and Infinity (1,800) and Explorer II(199) will also visit Stanley. Polar Pioneer (56) visits Sea Lion Island on Tuesday while it is the turn of Akademik Sergey Vavilov(100) on Wednesday. Polar Pioneer will be in Stanley on Thursday and Bremen(180) will be call at George and Barren Islands.