Dear Editor,

On behalf of Ross-on-Wye & District Royal British Legion I wish to thank everyone who attended the Service of Dedication to Commemorate the fallen of the Falklands War of 1982, on Saturday.

We were delighted that Major Patrick Darling DL, representing the Dowager Countess of Darnley, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, High Sheriff of Herefordshire Nat Hone, General Sir Peter and Lady Bridget de la Billiere, Councillor Nigel Gibbs and his wife Gill, the Mayor and Mayoress of Ross, and all the other dignitaries who attended.

Special thanks go to Reverend Sarah Jones who officiated, Mr Des Auld who played the Last Post and Reveille, Ross Choristers who sang the hymn “I vow to thee my Country”, Trevor Bradshaw who read a Tribute to Private Timothy Jenkins, in which he also remembered Guardsmen Colin Parsons and Gareth Griffiths, and Mr Gordon Mather, Chairman of SAMA 82 who read the “Falklands Prayer”.

Veterans came from all over the country, including the Royal British Legion Riders, many of whom served in the Falklands Conflict, and it was a pleasure to have members of the Parachute and Royal Marines Associations.

I would also like to extend my personal thanks to the marvellous team of volunteers – it was truly a team effort and we are all very proud that we were able to do this for the families, friends and comrades of the three men named on the bench.

The Memorial Bench will be a permanent reminder to all of the sacrifices made in this War, but it is only the first half of the commemmoration. The Remembrance Stone will be blessed in November and we hope to see everyone again.

When we first started our appeal to raise funds for the Bench and Remembrance Stone, Brecon RBL and SAMA Wales donated the extra funds collected by the Riders Branch “Ride of Respect commemorating the 35th Anniversary” with the understanding any extra funds collected by us would go towards the next bench. I would like to confirm that we handed £805.50 back to SAMA Wales, which meant we raised well over £2,500 and we would like to thank all who contributed.

Graham Aplin

Chairman Ross-on-Wye & District RBL