Falklands : WILLIE BOWLES AWARDED QUEEN’S CERTIFICATE AND BADGE OF HONOUR
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 22.08.2010 (Article Archived on 05.09.2010)
Mr Willie Bowles has received the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour at a Government House reception held for him on Tuesday evening.
Photo (c) J. Brock (FINN)
WILLIE BOWLES AWARDED QUEEN’S CERTIFICATE AND BADGE OF HONOUR
By J. Brock (FINN)
Willie Bowles, left, receives the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour from H. E. the Governor Mr Alan Huckle at a reception held in his honour on Tuesday.
Mr Willie Bowles has received the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour at a Government House reception held for him on Tuesday evening. He received the award for his services to the community at Goose Green during the 1982 Conflict and for his continuing services to young people interested in woodwork and carpentry.
In his remarks, H. E. the Governor Mr Alan Huckle mentioned Mr Bowles’ loyalty and exceptional benefit to the people of the Falklands. Mr Bowles received 40 nominations for the award.
People who nominated Mr Bowles mentioned his calm under immense pressure and his common touch when it came to speaking Spanish to Argentine conscripts. Others mentioned his work with children – especially those with handicaps – in the field of woodworking and carpentry.
Eric Goss in his remarks remembered how he urged Willie and his family to ride out the war in Goose Green only to bring Willie from the frying pan into the fire. He went on to say that Mr Bowles’ carpentry came in handy when spaces had to be constructed beneath the hall where the approximately 115 people sheltered during the battle of Goose Green. He also constructed a barricade out of an old table to keep Argentines from sheltering in an already crowded space beneath the floorboards of the hall.
After receiving the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour Mr Bowles said that like Henry VIII said to his wife, ‘I won’t keep you long,’ and quipped that there were a lot of former POWs in the room. He wished H. E. the Governor and Mrs Huckle bon voyage and all the best for the future and thanked everyone for coming.
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