2020 HMS FEARLESS and FOXTROT 4 families are reunited after 37 years (see page 3) I am delighted to tell you that, given to us by the Falkland Islands CHAIRMAN’S LETTER following her retirement as Government which has funded Representative of the Falkland so many of our projects over the This past year marked the first time, Our Chapel building is now twenty Islands Government in the UK, years. Thank you all! in a non-anniversary year, that one years old and generally stands Sukey Cameron MBE has kindly the numbers attending our June up well to the rigours of the events agreed to become a Trustee of Major General Jeff Mason Annual Service of Remembrance and pilgrim visits that take place FIMCT. She will help us to Chairman of the Trustees and Thanksgiving exceeded a within its walls. This side of things maintain our valuable links with congregation of six hundred and is carefully monitored by Trustee the Falkland Islands and its people, fifty! Our promise never to turn Dick Melly and his Committee, and she will provide us with the anyone away was tested and, thanks together with the College Bursar, benefit of her extensive experience to the College’s newly built recital and any signs of deterioration or with the bereaved families and hall, everyone who wished to attend damage are dealt with swiftly and veterans of the Falklands War. I was accommodated successfully. efficiently, with help sought from know that you will join me in This bears testament to the fact our generous supporters, should it welcoming her to the Trustee that the memories of 1982 never be required. Board (See page 7). fade, and the commemoration of those who lost their lives will The Trustees are looking next to I have some further Trustee news; forever continue. enhance the Memorial Garden, our sincere congratulations to which they consider is underutilised Major General Alastair Bruce The largest ever reunion gathering and should demonstrate a closer OBE VR DL who became the of sixty three HMS Fearless connection with the Memorial Governor of Edinburgh Castle veterans and families together with Chapel. In the first instance it is last summer and has kindly agreed our ‘regulars’ and many newcomers intended to permit the display of to remain as an FIMCT Trustee in attended our Annual Service on additional memorial plaques on the an advisory capacity. 16th June 2019. It was the turn walls, and a scheme to enable this is of the RAF to field The Band and currently being prepared. I have said, year on year, how very the Preacher, the Venerable John grateful we are to all our Chapel Ellis, and the overspill of some fifty On a sad note, we remember Friends, supporters and Service visitors was able to participate fully the recent passing of two loyal organisations for your continued in the Service in the Nancy Harding Friends, Captain David Pentreath donations towards the work of Hall. Lunch in Drake Hall was, DSO CBE, Commander of HMS the Chapel. Nothing is taken once again, a triumph! The superb Plymouth in 1982, and Sir Donald for granted. This year, we have catering staff never cease to amaze Gosling, a long-time supporter of received generous funding to cover me! You can see a full account of Chapel projects, to whom we are the cost of this newsletter from the the day on pages 3, 4 and 5. extremely grateful. RNRM Charity and Seafarers UK, and much of the cost of our Annual Service, to be held on Sunday 14th June 2020 (see page 8), has been summer 2019 PRAYER FOR THE YEAR by Reverend Neil Jeffers Heavenly Father we thank You for the men and women who have served our country in one or other of our armed forces and we particularly bring before You today those L-R Major General Sir Iain Mackay-Dick, Jim Gillanders, William Rumney, Brigadier Charles Page, Kenny McGovern, Major General Michael Scott, who have fallen sick, been Trevor Elliott, Les Swaney (Rev. Angus Smith & Colonel Ewan Lawrie out of picture.) injured or have suffered some long-term health or emotional We will remember the Tumbledown Nine problem, through the traumas that they have had Brigadier Charles Page MBE, for Tumbledown Mountain, alongside the Battalion, to to experience while serving abroad. a Chapel Trustee, and other one of the last actions of the consider contributing to this members of the 2nd Battalion campaign.” Says Charles Page. worthwhile cause; no amount is Scots Guards in 1982, are making “Our plan is to raise £9,000 for too small and, if you are able to Father we know that You a bid to raise the funds for nine nine seats, one each for the eight use gift-aid, you can increase your alone are the one that can Seats ‘In Memory’ of their fallen Scots Guardsmen and one Royal donation in real terms”. heal the heart as well as the ‘brothers in arms’. Engineer who gave up their lives. body. Only You can cure the Each seat will be individually Each Seat is £1,000 or £800 inner pain as well as ease the “We would like to make a inscribed as a lasting reminder of by Gift Aid. To contribute other injuries - and we lift special memorial in the Falkland their bravery and sacrifice”. please send a donation, clearly each one up to You and pray Islands Memorial Chapel to marked Scots Guards Seat that in Your grace and mercy commemorate the nine members “I am therefore asking all 2SG Appeal, by using the form You would meet them at their of 2SG who died during the Battle veterans, and others who served enclosed with this newsletter. point of need. Amen Thank you, Flower Ladies! The enjoyment of seeing beautiful raised enough money by mounting floral tributes and displays in the events to keep the Flower Guild Chapel does not happen by magic! Fund going. To achieve this outcome they have organised four It all started in 1999 when the late wonderful Flower Festivals in the Liz Hudson, wife of Headmaster Chapel: in 2000, in the 20th & 25th Anthony, was puzzling over how to Anniversary years (2002 and 2007), find the money to have flowers in the and in 2010 to celebrate 100 years of ‘just completed’ Chapel both for the Pangbourne College. Under Sadie’s November Dedication Service and leadership, they have made sure that for the future. It was Sadie Clare, there have always been flowers and a College mother and experienced floral tributes for families’ loved ones flower arranger, who hatched a in the Chapel for every single special plan for Liz and the Chapel which occasion, and their unstinting work Sadie Clare and Sue Hollebone prepare floral tributes for 16th June 2019 has lasted nigh on 20 years without has been widely admired. “There remains some money in the love and care that they have put interruption. With other mothers, kitty for Annual Falklands Services, into every floral tribute over so and with Liz’s help and blessing, So what happens now? Sadie and I am sure that the Chapel many years. We will seek to secure Sadie formed a voluntary Flower says that for the foreseeable Trustees and the College will find an answer for the future.” Guild which has served the Chapel future she has a handful of willing an answer when that runs out.” royally over two decades. volunteers, including Sue, who will happily produce floral tributes and In the meantime, Chapel Trust Diary Date Now, from June 2020, the Flower arrangements on key dates, but there Chairman Jeff Mason tells us: “The On November 21st / 22nd, Guild will formally disband. In the will be no formal Flower Guild. Trustees and I are hugely grateful the BB&O area of NAFAS intervening years, Sadie and her to Sadie and her team; they have will stage a Christmas-themed loyal team of volunteers, at whose “We will keep in close touch with never let us down and I know that Flower Festival. Further details: core are Secretary Sue Hollebone Reverend Neil Jeffers and will everyone, particularly the families, [email protected] and Treasurer Richard Stone, have always help if we can,” says Sadie. would want to thank them for the a fearless tale - june 2019 A Most Moving Occasion The story of the day was a remarkable Ship’s reunion gathering of sixty five at the Annual Service on 16th June 2019. The substantial group, mustered by the Executive Officer of HMS FEARLESS in 1982, Captain John Kelly OBE RN, included twenty five members of the six families who had lost their loved ones when Landing Craft Foxtrot 4 was sunk by Argentine aircraft in 1982. They were meeting together for the first time in 37 years and were accompanied by a further 40 Thomas and Mary Rundle Neil Johnston veterans from HMS FEARLESS, Rear Admiral Jeremy Larken DSO parents of Marine John Rundle son of Colour Sgt Brian Johnston QGM RM including The First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones KCB ADC who served in FEARLESS as an Acting Sub Lieutenant in 1982, plus Major General Julian Thompson CB OBE and Commodore Michael Clapp CB. Appropriately, the Captain of HMS FEARLESS in 1982, Rear Admiral Jeremy Larken DSO, performed the Act of Remembrance during the Chapel Service and later presented each family with a framed print of Foxtrot 4’s Memorial on Bertha’s Beach Margaret Thompson Pat Cowan Yvonne Ross in the Falklands. Everyone then sat sister of Colour Sgt Brian Johnston QGM RM sister of Colour Sgt Brian Johnston QGM RM widow of MEA(P)1 Alexander James together for lunch in Drake Hall.