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 14th May, outside the Old Town Hall. The flag will be received by the Mayor of Carlisle, and local MP John Stevenson.
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.”