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Falkland Islands celebrated Margaret Thatcher's Day, remembering her visit 10 January 1983

Wednesday, January 11th 2023 - 10:22 UTC
Full article 8 comments
The Bronze bust of Mrs. Thatcher on Thatcher Drive in Stanley The Bronze bust of Mrs. Thatcher on Thatcher Drive in Stanley
The Iron Lady surrounded by some of the British troops from the Task Force The Iron Lady surrounded by some of the British troops from the Task Force

January 10 is a very special anniversary in the Falklands Islands because Margaret Thatcher's Day is celebrated. On this day in 1983 then Prime Minister Thatcher visited the Islands and was awarded the honorary freedom of the Falklands.

Mrs. Thatcher described her trip and visit to the Falklands as a personal pilgrimage. For the 8,000 miles trip she was accompanied by a small entourage including her husband Dennis.

In the Falklands she reaffirmed UK's commitment to defend the Islands and the Islanders right to self determination, and no sovereignty talks with Argentina.

At the time almost everywhere she went Mrs. Thatcher was greeted by enthusiastic crowds. Some of the Islanders wept and called her a liberator. They compared her to the great commander of World War II Winston Churchill.

In the City of Stanley, situated on Thatcher Drive, alongside the 1982 Liberation Memorial, a bronze bust of Margaret Thatcher was created by local sculptor and taxidermist, Steve Massam.

Unveiled on Thatcher Day, 10th January 2015, the bust commemorates the life of the UK Prime Minister and her role in the Falklands’ war. The brass plaque beneath bears her words from 3rd April 1982 “They are few in number, but they have the right to live in peace, to choose their own way of life and allegiance”.

On Tuesday 10 January, the Falklands Government, Governor Alison Blake CMG, and the Falklands Representative in London recalled and honored the fortieth anniversary of the Iron Lady's visit, who in 1983 received a hero's welcome from the grateful Islanders for her decision to send a Task Force to Liberate the Islands.

Top Comments

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  • Judge Jose

    Pytangua, I detested Thatcher and her policies ,but she was a strong leader and i can understand why the Islanders like her, if it wasnt for her you would be still living under an evil military dicatatorship, think before you open your mouth,

    Jan 11th, 2023 - 02:29 pm +1
  • Dirk Dikkler

    @Pytangua You are a silly little boy!!! and I seriously doubt you pay any taxes!

    Jan 11th, 2023 - 07:58 pm +1
  • Terence Hill

    “Falklands whom we taxpayers subsidise”

    Aren’t you the proven liar.

    “We are now self-financing and have been since the late 1980s and we receive no economic aid from Britain nor do we pay any taxes or levies to the United Kingdom.
    The United Kingdom assists us with our foreign affairs and defense. A defense, I might say, only required because of the belligerent nature of our closest neighbor”
    https://en.mercopress.com/2014/05/23/falklands-reaffirms-right-to-self-determination-on-un-charter-and-documents-going-back-to-1960 falklands, self-sufficiency

    Jan 12th, 2023 - 12:15 am +1
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