‘Falklands 30 years on’ four days conference at Canterbury University

A four day conference at Canterbury University discussing the Falkland Islands ‘30 years on’, will begin Falklands elected Member of Legislative Assembly Dick Sawle’s visit to the UK.

Former Secretary of Defence Sir John Nott when the UK dispatched the task force, will open the conference

He will deliver a speech on the Falklands’ growth since 1982 and its future ‘rosy’ prospects.

Sir John Nott who was the Secretary of Defence in 1982 and dispatched the task force, will open the proceedings and Major General Julian Thompson and Commodore Michael Clapp will speak on the amphibious phase of the conflict, while Mr Peter Hennessy will assess what British intelligence knew about the Argentine intentions on the eve of the invasion.

A panel of Islanders including Patrick Watts, former head of Falklands Radio, will describe their experiences of the war.

MLA Sawle commented this week: “I have prepared a presentation on what the Falklands has done in the 30 years since the war, political, social and economic developments and I think the story we have to tell there is a good one.”

He added that he believes, “the Falklands has grown and matured amazingly well”.

MLA Sawle will also attend a SAMA meeting, a service in Liverpool in memory of those who died on the Atlantic Conveyor in the 1982 War, the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, the Commonwealth Parliamentary (CPA) meeting in Scotland and a number of other meetings on behalf of the Falkland Islands Government. (Penguin News)