A day to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Falklands conflict will be held later this year in Carlisle.
On Saturday, May 14, at 1pm, a military parade will march from Carlisle Cathedral to the war memorial, where there will be a short service and the laying of wreaths.
The parade will be led by Pipe Major Steven Duffy, veteran of the Scots Guards who saw active service in the Falklands conflict, and residents from across Carlisle and Cumbria are encouraged to line the route.
A service of commemoration will then be held at St Cuthbert’s Church at 2pm, led by Padre David Cooper, padre to 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment during the Falklands campaign. People are welcome to join the service and there will be tea served afterwards at the Tithe Barn.
That evening, there will be a formal commemorative dinner to be held at the Station Hotel, Carlisle.
The event is organised by a group of people, including Carlisle resident Rachel Simons who grew up in Stanley during the Falklands conflict, Carlisle Falklands veteran Howard Foster, and Canon Jim Hyslop of St. Cuthbert’s Church whose son Richard Hyslop was appointed the Falkland Islands Government Representative to the UK in 2019.
The group is being supported by Carlisle MP John Stevenson.
Mr Stevenson said: “I am delighted than plans are now in place for the event with a great deal of interest being shown both locally and nationally. The Falklands conflict was a significant moment in British history and it is important that we do not forget those that made the ultimate sacrifice. I would be very pleased to see as many people as possible come along on the day, honouring those that took part in the conflict.”
Mr Foster, a forward observation officer with the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment during the conflict, said: “I have been delighted with the amount of interest being show in the event from Falklands veterans all over the country and I am hoping to welcome as many as possible with their families on the day.”
Ms Simons added: “I’m grateful that we have this opportunity to commemorate peace and freedom being returned to the Falkland Islands, to honour those who gave so much.”
The Falklands War began on April 2 1982. It lasted 74 days and saw 255 UK Armed Forces personnel killed, 649 Argentine Armed Forces casualties, and the deaths of three Falkland Islanders, with a further 2,432 personnel injured. Today, the Falkland Islands remain an internally self-governing UK Overseas Territory.
Tickets for the dinner will be available to buy from March 1 from Eventbrite here.
