Falklands : Falklands Veterans' Association Receive Freedom of Gosport
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 29.08.2005 (Article Archived on 12.09.2005)
The BBC's Judy Frankel reports on this moving ceremony in "Calling the Falklands." a BBC World Service programme.
FALKLANDS VETERANS’ FOUNDATION RECEIVE FREEDOM OF GOSPORT
A Report for BBC World Service “Calling the Falklands” by Dee Palmer (DP)
On Wednesday, the Freedom of the borough of Gosport was bestowed on the Falklands’ Veterans Foundation. About 200 veterans gathered in the Falklands Garden and waited for the mayor and other dignitaries to arrive. As the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas played and the rain fell, the Chief Executive of the Falklands Veterans’ Foundation, Derek “Smoky” Cole (DC), told Judy Frankel (JF) what to expect.
DC: The Councillors will be arriving down here about 1030, then we are going into the ceremony. We will get that through as quickly as possible with this weather then we will parade back up the High Street and the salute will be taken by Rear Admiral Jeremy Larkin, Lady Fieldhouse and the Mayor.
JF: Bronda Booker (BB) is Press Officer for Gosport Borough Council. She said that Gosport was where a lot of families came to see their loved ones off and a lot of people came to welcome them back as well.
BB: A few years ago now we dedicated the Garden and re-named it the Falkland Gardens. We have a memorial stone over there, which Baroness Thatcher very kindly came down to unveil. And, it’s a place where families still come and still lay flowers in memory of those who weren’t lucky enough to come back.
JF: So this is a fitting place to hold the service?
BB: It is. It means a lot to the families and it means a lot to the Falkland Veterans as well.
JF: Pipers lead the civic procession from the Town Hall past the Guard and on to the podium for the official ceremony. The Chaplain to the Mayor, Rev. Peter Sutton (PS), addressed the Veterans, their families and all those from Gosport, who braved the rain to come to watch.
PS: Veterans of the Falklands War, welcome back to the Borough of Gosport, which today wishes to honour you in this Freedom Ceremony. Today we have come into this Falklands Garden to confer upon the Falklands Veterans’ Foundation the highest honour that this town can give – the Freedom of the Borough.
JF: The Mayor of Gosport Graham Burgess (GB) praised the Falklands Veterans’ Foundation for its tireless work in giving financial and emotional support to Veterans and their families. But he also spoke of their disappointment at not getting a lottery grant to build a refuge in Stanley.
GB: All here will be greatly saddened that the lottery fund has refused to finance this vital shelter project. For I am sure the Falklands will carry on the fight to achieve what most people will see as absolutely necessary for those who are still trying to come to terms with the horrors of the 1982 campaign.
JF: Then came the signing of the Freedom Scroll, well actually, it was signed indoors to keep it from getting too wet.
GB: I would like to present the Freedom Scroll to the Falklands Veterans Foundation.
Vox Pop No. 1:
JF: Can I ask you what you thought of the Ceremony?
Voice 1: Other than being very wet, it was very good!
Voice 2: It was a lovely ceremony.
Voice 3: It was very nice.
Voice 4: It was quite moving.
Voice 5: It was very moving, yes.
Voice 6: I am very proud of them.
JF: Now that they were Freemen, Falklands Veterans marched down the High Street to Cheers and applause from the crowd. The rain was relentless but it didn’t dampen the mood. And, in the Marquee, all friends and comrades ate, drank and reminisced.
Vox Pop No. 2:
JF: How important is this Freedom for you?
Voice 1: It’s very important. We appreciate being given the Freedom of Gosport but also we think of the people who lost their lives in the Falklands as well.
Voice 2: I came all the way from the North of England for this so I appreciate it anyway because this is actually the first time I have come to a reunion. And, it’s nice to be able to meet friends 23 years later.
Voice 3: I don’t think it’s so much about us. I think it’s what the Town of Gosport has done. It’s nice to be acknowledged by somebody and after this amount of time. The guys in general appreciate someone saying thank-you for what you did.
Voice 4: I was only a youngster. I was nineteen and I had my birthday down there and I was talking to somebody earlier about the fact I had a can of beer for my birthday and then we got on with the job.
JF: Have you been back to the Falkland Islands?
Voice 4: Yes. I went back in 1986. I was on HMS Nottingham at the time and it was quite moving. It didn’t lay ghosts to rest but it put my mind at ease over what it was all about. The second time around I enjoyed myself and at least I wasn’t getting shot at. That was a bonus.
Voice 5: I am Graham Burgess, the Mayor of Gosport.
JF: How important was it to give the Freedom of the Borough to the Falklands Veterans for you?
GB: It is the highest honour the Borough can bestow. And, it was unanimous from the Council. There were no dissenters and everyone was in favour. Everybody was involved in ’82 in some way or another. They knew somebody who went down South, they knew somebody who was affected when they came back or didn’t get back and we are absolutely overjoyed that the Falklands Veterans Foundation are actually going to have their 25th reunion in Gosport
Voice 6: My name is Les Hayhoe. I am Falklands Veterans Foundation voluntary fundraising co –ordinator.
JF: How many Falklands Veterans came today?
Voice 6: Officially, we had 140 marching but people found out the day before or on the day so I think in total there is something like 180. We had 400 families including adults and children. The weather was against us today but I think there has been a very good turn out.
JF: And they came from all over the UK?
Voice 6: All over the place but a gentleman has come from Norway. A couple of guys who actually reside in the Falkland Islands, Scotland, Wales – you name it.
JF: What does having the Freedom of the Borough mean?
Voice 6 It certainly means a lot for me as an individual. So, it’s a great honour. As you can see by the turn out, everyone is highly delighted.
DP: That report from a rather soggy Gosport was by Judy Frankel. All Falklands Veterans – that is, all those with a South Atlantic Medal, are able to have their own personal certificate, a duplicate of the scroll presented to the Freemen, by going to the Falklands Veterand’ Foundation website. It’s address is http://www.fbf.org.uk.
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