MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
HMS Sultan, Gosport hosts Falklands Veterans reception
Sarah Jones CBE, Captain Woodcock RN, Mr. Howard Pullen and Miss Sukey Cameron The town of Gosport, on the western side of Portsmouth harbour, and home of the Falklands Veterans Foundation, has hosted the first major event commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands War.
On May 25th at H.M.S. Sultan, the tri-service training establishment in Gosport, a reception for Falklands War Veterans began with a wreath laying for fallen comrades. This commemorated all those who gave their lives to liberate the Falklands - but particularly those lost on the MV Atlantic Conveyor and on H.M.S. Coventry, both of which were sunk on May 25th, when Argentina made a special effort to mark its revolution day. Prayers were said by the Reverend Canon Roger Devonshire (Rtd) a 1982 veteran of HMS Hermes. Some 200 veterans renewed old acquaintances at the bar. Then the Last Post was sounded and a silence was observed as a banquet was served to them and their guests, all in black tie. Derek Kimber, a member of the crew of the Coventry in the war - and now Deputy-Mayor of Gosport - gave a moving address. Among those present were Miss Sukey Cameron MBE, representing the Falkland Islands Government, with her fiancée, Mr. Howard Pullen; Captain S.J. Woodcock RN, Commanding Officer of the RN School of Marine Engineering at Sultan, and the Mayor of Gosport, Keith Gill. Other guests were Sarah Jones CBE, widow of Colonel Jones VC, killed at Goose Green. President of the Royal Naval Writers' Association, Colin Hughes and a group from that body, including Ray Metcalf, CPO writer onboard HMS Fearlessduring the war - and next Friday the Fearless veterans will be holding their own re-union at the Royal Sailors Home Club, in Portsmouth. At the Sultan reception too was Brigadier Anthony Welch OBE, who was a major in logistics in the war, and is now Secretary of the RFA Sir Galahad Officers Association. Lieutenant Robert Lawrence attended, now fully recovered from the head wound he received on Mount Tumbledown, where he won an MC. Other veterans at the reception were from HMS Exeter; Antrim, Onyx and Glamorgan, the Hospital Transfer Ships Hydra and Hecla, and 3 Commando Brigade. The event was organised by Les Heyhoe and his wife Lyn, and Derek Cole, a Falklands War veteran, who together run the FVF. Les has done so much voluntary work that he was awarded the UK Volunteer of the Year in 2006. Peter J. Pepper â€" Gosport
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