London 17 June 2007
Admiral The Lord West leads the Falklands 25 Parade in London
Credit: David Azia (All Rights Reserved)
Forty Ardent’s gathered in London on 17 June to join the other thousands of Falklands veterans on parade. Prince Andrew, who served as a helicopter pilot in the 1982 conflict took the salute in central London as Mrs Thatcher, who gave the order for troops to reclaim Britain's remote South Atlantic territory, looked on. Large screens replayed BBC news reports from the time and broadcast interviews from those involved in the fighting as veterans, medals pinned to our chests, marched on the Horse Guards parade ground led by Lord West who had also led the victory parade through London back in 1982. On the Falklands Islands a service was also held attended by association member Barbara McAulay who laid a wreath to here husband Mac.
Those of us that marched knew our Association families, relatives and friends looked on as we sang our hearts out to Rod Stewart's classic song “Sailing”. Then it was time for us to march off down the Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Here we stood and watched a fly-past of Falklands-era military aircraft. And then we were off again towards the end of our march and the dispersal point outside the Army barracks at Wellington barracks.