MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands remembers hard times' good friend and lobbyist
Major General (R) Nigel St. George Gribbon OBE Major General (retired) Nigel St. George Gribbon OBE, the founding Chairman of the United Kingdom Falkland Islands Trust (UKFIT) was Managing Director of British PR Company, Sallingbury Limited, before and during the South Atlantic conflict (1982) and provided PR expertise for the political lobbying group the Falkland Islands Association.
Falklands' Councilor Mike Summers explained that at the time, the Falkland Islands Government did not have the resources to deal with the sudden interest from the British media, and turned to the Falkland Islands Association for their assistance. As a result of Major General St. George Gribbon's involvement he developed a great interest in the I-slands and later became involved in the UKFIT. Professor Jim McAdam, Consultant to the UKFIT, said, "Nigel's initial driver was to promote the idea of organic farming in the Falklands and for the first few years the Trust supported research into the suitability of soils and farming system for biological husbandry. This included testing the value of seaweed as an organic fertilizer. We then moved onto (again backed by Nigel's enthusiasm) the concept of shelterbelts and started an active tree planting research program. "Nigel was always willing to embrace new ideas, familiarize himself with concepts which were often outside his realm and was totally dedicated to improving and developing the civic, educational and agricultural sectors in the Falklands. "I found him a pleasure to work with and pay tribute to the contribution he made to development in the Falklands. The late Robin Lee (Falkland farm owner and former Councilor) once said to me of Nigel "we don't realize the debt we owe to some of these old guys beavering away on our behalf in an office in London somewhere', such was Nigel." A donation from the Falkland Islands Government will be sent to the Jubilee Sailing Trust in his memory, as requested by the family. There will be a private funeral with a Service of Thanksgiving being held in London at a date to be announced. Major General (retired) Nigel St. George Gribbon died on January 9. By Lisa Johnson – SeAledPR – Stanley
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