Interest in the Carlisle Falklands 40 event on 14th
May 2022 continues to grow, with over 100 Falklands veterans
marching from the South Atlantic Medal Association.
The parade will commence at 1pm from the grounds of Carlisle
Cathedral marching to the Cenotaph, Greenmarket, Carlisle led by
Pipe Major Steven Duffy. Steven was posted to the 2nd Battalion
Pipes & Drums in 1982, and while serving with the
Reconnaissance Platoon he was critically wounded at the Battle
for Tumbledown Mountain, the last battle of the Falkland Island
conflict. He was subsequently Mentioned-in-Dispatches for
distinguished service. During his extensive career Steven has
played at many of the most prestigious State and military
occasions including the Queen’s Birthday Parade, Beating Retreat
at Horse Guards Parade, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the
Royal Tournament.
At the Cenotaph there will be a short service followed by the
laying of wreaths in remembrance of all those who lost their
lives.
A commemorative service will then be held at St Cuthbert’s Church
at 3pm led by Padre David Cooper, Padre to the 2nd
Battalion the Parachute Regiment during the Falklands campaign,
followed by refreshments at the Tithe Barn.
A formal dinner will then follow at The Station Hotel from 7pm.
Anyone interested in purchasing tickets for the dinner should
visit https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Carlisle/Carlisle-Station-Hotel-/Carlisle-Falklands-40-veterans-dinner/36026204/
In addition, the Falklands flag will be presented to the people
of Carlisle from the Government and people of the Falkland
Islands, by Richard Hyslop, the Falkland Islands Government
Representative to the United Kingdom and Europe. This will take
place at 12.30pm on the 14thMay, outside the Old Town
Hall. The flag will be received by the Mayor of Carlisle, and
local MP .
Speaking John said, “I am delighted with the amount of
interest from veterans in the Carlisle Falklands 40 event and do
hope as many Carlisle and Cumbrian residents as possible, will
come out and support the veterans as they march in the city. Many
are travelling across the country to be with us on the day.
It is a particular honour to be accepting the Falklands flag
alongside the Mayor on behalf of the people of Carlisle.”
Richard Hyslop added, "40 years ago, Falkland Islanders
celebrated their liberation from Argentine occupation. That
liberation came at a price, with 255 members of the UK Armed
Forces and three Falkland Islanders losing their lives during the
War. Falkland Islanders will be forever grateful for what
the UK Armed Forces did in 1982 and 40 years on that gratitude
has not diminished.
In this 40th anniversary year, we remember those
who died in the liberation of the Islands, their families, and
those who still bear the scars of the conflict to this day, both
physical and mental. This year is also an opportunity to
celebrate the modern Falkland Islands. Islanders have not
wasted the freedom that was won for them, they have worked hard
to establish a modern, prosperous, self-sufficient, diverse,
democratic, welcoming and open society.
I am therefore delighted that Carlisle has chosen to mark the
40th anniversary with a series of events, and I
look forward to attending them all. It will be a particular
honour to present the Mayor of Carlisle and Carlisle MP with a
Falkland Islands flag from the people and government of the
Islands, and to see it flying proud as part of the celebrations
and on other occasions in the future."
