MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands’ 82 exhibition opens in Stanley and will run until April

Don Bonner: “I remember him (Rex Hunt) saying to me: don’t worry Don we’ll be back.”

“Telling some of the personal stories behind the events we know so well,” was how Museum Curator Leona Roberts described a fascinating and comprehensive exhibition of Falkland Islands war memorabilia and stories currently on display at St Mary’s Parish Hall in Stanley.

The exhibition, which will run until April (in order to also allow later visiting 1982 war veterans, tourists and next season’s cruise ship visitors to peruse the wealth of objects and information) depicts the 1982 events from the Argentine invasion to liberation by British Forces.

Mrs Roberts said: “There are a lot more stories out there and more to be said than we had space for.” She particularly thanked Fortuna Limited for their sponsorship, noting the expense of having images printed for display.

She told Penguin News that museum staff had been working on the exhibition for only one month due to work taking place on future relocation to the Dockyard, “that’s why this has been a bit of a drama for us.”

Last Wednesday evening His Excellency the Governor Nigel Haywood opened the exhibition to the invited guests most of whom had contributed to the collection.

Mr Haywood described it as, an outstanding exhibition that made a very convincing point. He told guests that with the memories, “so very fresh in your minds,” it must be, “disconcerting to see it as a museum,” adding that it was, “clear and factual with personal touches.”

Invited guest Don Bonner, who was chauffer to 1982 Governor Rex Hunt was impressed with the collection. He told Penguin News he remembered making the request to the Argentine authorities after the invasion that he be allowed to visit Government House every day in order to, “check on the house and the furniture,” adding, “that’s why I got the medal.”

Don explained that having driven the soon to be exiled Governor Hunt to the airport, “I remember him saying to me: don’t worry Don we’ll be back.”

A later memory involved telling Argentine troops not to, “dig in,” around Government House because it would draw fire into the civilian community. Later that day the ADC to Argentine Commander General Menendez called on Don and passed the message:
“Don’t worry, when the British troops are three miles from Stanley we will surrender.”

The exhibition will be open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and some evenings, however, if residents are unable to make those times, “please call the museum as we are very happy to open up for you,” said Mrs Roberts. (Penguin News)