Another year has gone and it hasbeen a very good one for theChapel. More and more visitorshave made their way toPangbourne; the College havehad some wonderful events in theChapel and our Annual Servicein the Summer attracted over 500to enjoy and reflect on themoving address delivered byMission to Seafarers’ SecretaryGeneral, The Reverend BillChristianson, some marvellousmusic from the Choir and theBrass Quintet of the Irish Guards.In line with our MerchantService theme for 2009 the Guestof Honour was Captain IanMcNaught, last Master of theQE2, and his wife Susan. Thecontribution made by theMerchant Service is underlinedby the newly placed models in theMemorial Room. You can see ourfull report on pages 4 and 5.

2010 is a very special year in thelife of the Chapel. It is the 10thAnniversary of the OfficialOpening by Her Majesty TheQueen. Trustee AnthonyHudson, who was instrumental inraising the huge sums required tobuild the Chapel, has taken a tripdown memory lane for us (pages 6& 7).

In further celebration of the 10thAnniversary this year’s Service –on Sunday June 13th – will havea theme of Friendship and to thatend we are making a special effortto thank all those who support

Saturday March 6th: Charity Schools Concert at19.00hrs in aid of the

Children’s Trust. Tickets from Susie Belcher

01189 842101

10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE - 2010

CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

Saturday June 12th:Service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Details on both occasionsfrom FFA Secretary Cynthia Middlewick

(see page 2)

Saturday April 24th:Reunion Service and AGM

The Guards Chapel at Wellington Barracks

Sunday June 13th:Annual Service ofRemembrance &

Thanksgiving at 12.00hrsfollowed by refreshments in

Drake Hall.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

the Chapel as Friends togetherwith many of the MajorBenefactors who made theChapel possible in the first place,by inviting them to join us all.The Bishop of Reading The Rt.Reverend Stephen Cottrell willpreach – his predecessordedicated the Chapel ten yearsago at a most moving families’Service. Long term Friend of theChapel and veteran of ’82, Lt.General Sir Hew Pike KCB DSOMBE and his wife, Lady Jean, willbe our guests of honour.

Those of you who were with uslast year will have seen the newlyre-furbished Memorial Room

(report page 2) and will notefurther improvements this year.After ten years our lovely hymnbooks are getting very tatty – theyhave served us well – and are duefor replacement. We should havenew and updated ones for you byJune 13th generously part-fundedby a local benefactor. The newhymn book will include ourFalklands Hymn within its pages.

True to previous years ThomasGarnier and his College teamhave cared for and utilised theChapel to optimum effect. TheMarch Schools’ Concert waspatronised by five schools whocollectively raised £3,200 for the

Childrens’ Trust anddemonstrated extraordinarymusical talent in theirperformances. There have alsobeen many other concerts andServices throughout the year andnone so poignant as theRemembrance Sunday Service inNovember which is always a fullhouse.

The Trustees and I very muchlook forward to seeing you in Junewhen we promise anothermemorable Service and somerefreshing fare afterwards.

Jeremy Sanders

Members of HMS Invincible with their newly dedicated Standard at theAnnual Service on Sunday June 14th 2009

Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel Falkland Families Association

Friday June 11th: Flower Guild Masterclass at

the Falkland IslandsMemorial Chapel

19.15hrs(see page 2 for details)

BY POPULARDEMAND

We have re-designed ourMemorial Window noteletwhich was out of stock. Somany people asked for arepeat and we hope our newversion will meet with yourapproval. They are for sale inpacks of ten for £5(+postage) and can beobtained fromthe Secretary.(See page 3)Stocks willbe availableat the AnnualService.

NOTICES

SPECIAL 10TH ANNIVERSARY

SERVICE ON SUNDAY 13TH JUNE!Please join the Trustees on Sunday13th June 2010 for our specialService of Remembrance &Thanksgiving in the FalklandIslands Memorial Chapel atPangbourne. The Service begins at12.00 hrs and, as usual, will befollowed by a buffet andrefreshments in Drake Hall. You willfind a reply slip with this newsletterto complete and return for cateringnumbers. This year our theme is‘Friendship’ and we shall be joinedby Lt. General Sir Hew Pike KCBDSO MBE , long term Friend of theChapel and veteran of ’82, and hiswife, Lady Jean. Our preacher will beThe Rt. Rev’d Stephen Cottrell,Bishop of Reading and his wife, MrsCottrell. It was the then Bishop ofReading, Rt.Rev’d Dominic Walkerwho performed the DedicationCeremony of the Falkands Chapel

10TH ANNIVERSARY

FALKLAND ISLANDS MEMORIAL CHAPEL ASSOCIATIONS & CONTACTS

Falkland Families Association (FFA)Chairman: Mrs Sara Jones CBE

Secretary: Mrs Cynthia Middlewick, 20 Newlands Close, Keymer, Hassocks, West Sussex BN6 8BQ

SAMA ’82President: Major General Malcolm Hunt CBE Chairman Tony Davies MBE Secretary: Jane Adams

SAMA’82, Unit 5 Torfaen Business Centre, Gilchrist Thomas Industrial Estate, Blaenavon, Gwent, NP4 9RL. Tel: 01495 791592 or email: mainofficesama@aol.com

SAMA’82 AGM & Reunion Weekend: 26th-29th March at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Southport.

Merchant Navy Association (MNA)Capt. John Sail MNI, C/O Prelude Day Nursery, Ensign House, Osbournby, Sleaford, NG34 0DG

Tel: 01529 455734 Email: Mna4@sail-mail.netNational Secretary: Tim Brant Tel: 01472 851130 www.mna.org.uk

FLORAL ART MASTERCLASSOn Friday June 11th JohnChennel, National andInternational Floral ArtDemonstrator, will perform aMasterclass in the FalklandIslands Memorial Chapel at20.00hrs preceded by aninformal musical prelude at19.15. The event has beenorganised by Sadie Clare andthe ladies of the ChapelFlower Guild and tickets @£10 can be obtained fromTreasurer Richard Stone,Westfield, Woodview Road,Pangbourne, Reading RG87JN or email:StoneRC@aol.com.Cheques should be madepayable to the FIMCT FlowerGuild.

Commodore David Squire and theRFA Sir Galahad Ship’s Bell, nowhoused in the Chapel foyer

L-R Brigadier Robin McGarel-Groves, Anna & Anthony McGarel-Grovesand Chairman Jeremy Sanders beside the model ships display in theMemorial Room

MEMORIAL ROOM REFURBISHEDVisitors to the June Service werefirst to see the ‘new look’Memorial Room unveiled. Amodel collection of each shipwhich set sail for the SouthAtlantic in 1982 – carefullycrafted & donated by BrigadierRobin McGarel-Groves – is nowdisplayed in a specially designedcabinet. Next to the Ships’display, the Ensign from HMSGlamorgan retrieved after theWar, is housed within anotherdisplay frame. Unfortunately thenew computer in which theSAMA Garden of Remembranceis to be installed was not ready

for the big day but the matter hassince been rectified. The RFASir Galahad Ship’s Bell whichwas retrieved from the foc’sle bythe tug which towed her out tosea in 1982 to be sunk as a WarGrave, now has a permanenthome in the Chapel foyer. Acollection of prints donated byFalklands photographer, NormanClarke, form a further facet ofthe refurbishment programme.The funding for the MemorialRoom refurbishment was kindlyprovided by the HonorableCompany of Master Mariners &the Falklands ’82 Trust.

over a decade ago. This year we hopeto be joined by many of the Friendswho regularly help to maintain theChapel in good order and some ofthe Major Benefactors who helpedmake the building of the Chapelpossible.

The Trustees would like to hear fromany members of families who wouldlike to attend but have been unableto do so due to hardship or inabilityto travel distances unaccompanied.In special circumstances it may bepossible for the Trustees to give ameasure of assistance to those whohave been regularly unable to attendas long as funds are available for thispurpose. In this case a letter ofapplication should be sent via theSecretary before the end of Apriland will be treated with the utmostconfidence.

NEWS

On May 10th 2009 twenty members of the Surrey Chapter UK Independent Harley Riders Club rode into Pangbourne to remember colleagues lostin 1982 on board HMS Coventry. The remembrance visit to the Chapel was organised by George Gordon, now a Road Captain with the RidersGroup and trainer assessor with Balfour Beattie. Veteran, George, a Chief Petty Officer & Technician, travelled to the Falklands on board HMSInvincible and was deployed on several other ships including HMS Alacrity, HMS Bristol and HMS Coventry during the conflict.

‘I loved everything about the Memorial Chapel and have now been back twice; the first with the Riders Club to remember JDL Caddy, (Acting Chief WeaponsArtificer), Lt. ‘Ted’ Heath and ‘Ozzie’ Ozbirn (Acting Weapons Engineering Mechanic) each killed when a 1,000lb bomb exploded in HMS Coventry’scomputer room. Ozzie and I were sharing a bunk at the time – so the memories will always be with me. I was the lucky one,’ said George.

‘I came back to the Chapel as part of the HMS Invincible Association group at the June service to see our new standard dedicated.’ He added.

RIDE ’EM HARLEY!

Members of the Isle of Wight Suez Veterans Association spent aspecial day at the Memorial Chapel in September with their wivesto pay homage to all those who died in 1982 and, in particular, 17year old Andrew Swallow RN, a cook on board HMS Sheffield whohailed from Bembridge. The visit was organised by ex Suez RoyalArtillery Bombardier, Bob Harris, who had previously visited theChapel with his wife, Jan, and was moved by all the named kneelers.

‘When I saw young Andrew’s kneeler I resolved to bring a group ofour members to see it and the Memorial Chapel for themselves’, saidBob. ‘We had an absolutely brilliant day! Reverend Cunninghamgave us a lovely talk before conducting a very moving Service for us.Then we had a conducted tour of the Chapel and a fantastic lunchprepared by the College chef.’ He added.

SUEZ VETERANS HONOUR‘LOCAL LAD’

10TH ANNIVERSARY

Harley Riders Club members gather at the Cairn

Suez Veterans and their wives in the memorial garden. Suez Veteran, Bob Harris

Groups wishing to have their own ‘special day’ at the Chapel should contact ReverendBrian Cunningham on 01189 842101

CONTACT FIMCTMrs Angela Perry, Secretary to the Trustees,

Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel Trust,Wroxton Mill, Wroxton, Banbury, Oxon OX15 6EZ

Tel: 01295 738123 Email: angelaEAP @aol.com

THANK YOU

The Trustees would like to thank everyone who has supported theChapel this year both through regular giving and single donations.They would also like to acknowledge the contribution made bythe Royal British Legion which helps them produce thisnewsletter and that made by Seafarers UK which supports anincreasing pastoral care activity. They send their best wishes for2010 to everyone.

ANNUAL SERVICE 2009

HUNDREDS TURN OUT FOR ANNUAL SERVICEThe turn out for the 2009 Annual Service of Remembrance andThanksgiving was impressive. More than 500 members ofbereaved families, veterans, serving personnel, supportersand Friends joined the Trustees and Collegecommunity for another memorable day at theMemorial Chapel on Sunday June 14th.

This year it was the turn of the Merchant Navyto be remembered for its huge contribution in1982. The Guest of Honour was Captain IanMcNaught, last Master of the QE2 and his wifeSusan. The Mission to Seafarers’ SecretaryGeneral, The Reverend Bill Christianson,delivered a memorable and moving address.Nicci Pugh, former Senior Nursing Officer,Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval NursingService on board HM Hospital Ship Uganda,read the first lesson and the RFA Sir GalahadShip’s Bell, now in its new home in the Chapel foyer,was struck eight times by Trustee Commodore DavidSquire to herald the start of the Service.

A substantial group of veterans from the HMS Invincible W.O.’s& C.P.O.’s 82 Association were in the congregation to witness thededication of their new Standard by Reverend Christianson, afterwhich the Act of Remembrance was led by Trust Chairman RearAdmiral Jeremy Sanders. As usual the standard of music produced bythe choir, organist and Brass Quintet of the Irish Guards was supremeand, for the second year running, RM Piper Keith ‘Paddy’ Burton,inspite of a significant leg injury, played his moving rendition of theLament following the Irish Guards Bugler’s Last Post.

Among the guests was Brigadier Robin McGarel-Groves whosefascinating and intricately crafted models display of many of the shipswhich travelled to the Islands in the 1982 Falklands Flotilla was onshow for the first time in the Memorial Room. The Brigadier wasaccompanied by his son, Anthony and grandaughter, Anna.

In Memory of Malcolm Wigley,Welsh Guards

HMS Hermes Association members

Pauline & Janet Findlay withGraham Heaton MBE & SteveGerard remembering ColourSergeant GPM Findlay 2 Para

Christina & Rob Parkhouseremembering Able Seaman(Electronic Warfare) Stephen Heyes RN HMS Ardent

Lionel Higgins and John Newmanof RFA Sir Tristram

Richard Tipping with Margaret Keeper, both HMS Hermes Association,who made and presented her HMS Hermes wall hanging to the ChapelTrustees

L-R SAMA members KennyDawkins, ‘Joe’ Erskine, PaddyErskine, Annette Dawson, MarkGriffin and ‘Dickie’ Dawson

Nicci Pugh, former Senior NursingOfficer, Hospital Ship Ugandawith Admiral Sir John ‘Sandy’Woodward

Ian Cox, Standard Bearer forHMS Antrim Association

10TH ANNIVERSARY

ANNUAL SERVICE 2009

Falkland Islands GovernmentRepresentative Sukey CameronMBE with Legassy Member MikeSummers and his wife

Bugler of the Irish Guards Brass Quintet

Mr and Mrs Stan Jonesremembering their son, Christopher

CPO Kevin Robinson, Mrs Merrilyn Brown and Mr Graham Brown remembering those lost on board HMS Glamorgan

L-R Alexandra Garnier, Sir John Kiszely, Lady Arabella Kiszely, Rear AdmiralJeremy Sanders, Captain Ian McNaught, Mrs McNaught, Mrs Jane Sanders

10TH ANNIVERSARY

Brian and Alan Dodsworth rememberingPrivate Mark Dodsworth 3 Para

Long time Chapel supporters Paul& Lucy Sayce, HMS Conqueror

L-R Veteran Iain Shickle (chief petty officer in 1982) with Captain BrianYoung ( CO of HMS Antrim & President of the Antrim Association) whosadly died on Christmas Eve

Frank and Janet Schofield withfriend Carole Anderson

Sara Jones CBE with hergrandsons

10 YEARS ON

A JOURNEY THROUGH TIMEBY ANTHONY HUDSON

10TH ANNIVERSARY

Their name liveth for evermore…Rudyard Kipling. Twenty years ago the idea for aMemorial Chapel at Pangbourneto commemorate the 258 wholost their lives in the Falklandsin 1982 was put to the Collegecommunity in a sermon in DrakeHall. Ten years later theMemorial building made fleshwas presented to the familiesbereaved in that war of 100 days.For those involved in the projectthese were emotional times.

Three services, each with its ownidentity, welcomed the Chapelto a busy life. RemembranceSunday 1999, a ‘dress rehearsal’for the College, saw over 700pupils and parents participating,many standing upstairs, allappreciating the simplicity andspace created by architectCrispin Wride’s winning design.A week later the Chapel wasdedicated by the Bishop ofReading, the Rt. ReverendDominic Walker, supported byan inspiring talk by Admiral SirHenry Leach in the presence ofmany of the bereaved familieswho were visiting “theirmemorial” for the first time.Widows, mothers, fathers, brothersand sisters, children too, one ortwo not even born by the end ofthe war, found their arrival to bean emotional experience. Seeingthe 258 names carved in stone at

THE LONG &WINDING ROAD

Anyone who has readAnthony Hudson’s book aboutthe evolution of the Chapelwill know that it went throughthree incarnations before itbecame the beloved place it istoday. First off it was to be anElim Chapel transported fromSalisbury & rebuilt ‘stone bystone’at Pangbourne; the conceptelicited nearly £1million ofdonations after which the thenowners of the proposed Chapelrenegued on the deal.Undeterred, the Trustees setabout designing a traditionalChapel building ‘in keeping’with its surroundings of naturalbeauty – a safer, new build betwhich would fit happily intothe outline planning consentpreviously received. BUT – theMillennium was looming andthe planners were ‘treadingwater’. Then – the bombshell –planning permission waswithheld unless the Trusteescomplied with a new, forward-looking concept instigated bythe Royal Fine Arts Commission.‘Run a competition amongstarchitects throughout Britainto get a modern lookingbuilding to reflect the future’,they were told. Many wouldhave given up at that pivotalpoint – but the RFAC weredealing with men of extremedetermination who had, not solong before, been instrumentalin helping to expel theArgentinians from the Falklands.They wanted their MemorialChapel and a deal was struck.The nationwide competitionattracted 75 hopeful architectsand produced the Chapel wehave today which, inhindsight, echoes perfectly theinspiration of all thoseinvolved in its conception andbeing. You can read thisfascinating story, thedisappointments, the pitfalls,the struggles, and finally thevictorious result in ‘Just To SeeHis Name’ by AnthonyHudson MBE which is sold inaid of the Chapel Trust @ £10 acopy.

once created an emotionalatmosphere. Some needed totrace their father’s name withfingers on the wall; each familycarried into the service a kneelerbearing their loved one’s name,many becoming reluctant toreturn them – indeed onegrieving father on his last visit toEngland was eventually allowedto take his son’s home and awilling volunteer was at oncecommissioned to make areplacement. A first sight of thebeautiful interior, of John Clark’sstained glass window, a fineservice and a first rendering ofthe Falklands hymn, writtenespecially for the occasion, easedthe pain. Tears flowed, barrierscame down, veterans and officerswere in great demand as theFamilies began to realise whathad been created.

The third service, in March2000, heralded the presence ofHer Majesty the Queen toperform the Official Openingceremony. This time thecongregation included furtherconstituencies with LadyThatcher (who had launched theChapel building appeal in 1993)and senior representatives of theForces along with manycampaign veterans, majordonors, Falkland Families andPangbournians . The spirit of theday was best summed up by along time royal watcher who

opined: “This was the best, thefriendliest, the mostapproachable occasion I’ve everwitnessed”. A relationshipbetween Trustees, bereavedfamilies, veterans, and Collegewas forged that, thanks to theon-going work of SecretaryAngela Perry, still sustains ustoday. The Chapel hasincreasingly justified theTrustees’ brave decision to pressahead – against all odds at somepoints – and has become a focalpoint for lingering grief and, formany, an annual pilgrimage tothe Annual Service ofRemembrance & Thanksgivingeach June. The College too hasfound a defined role in whichtwo generations of pupils havedelighted in the privilege ofreceiving, guiding, hosting andmingling with our extendedfamily. The choir addsimmeasurably to the Serviceswhile we are truly blessed inhaving the ever present CollegeChaplain, Reverend BrianCunningham, to serve his widerconstituency so generously.

Our Annual Services continueto re-unite friendships new andold, while many distinguishedvisitors have brought lustre tothese occasions. Sermons fromLord Carey, former Archbishopof Canterbury, and the Rev NoelJones, former Chaplain of theFleet, & Bishop of Sodor andMan have set the tone, stronglysupported by the likes of GeneralSir Mike Jackson, Air ChiefMarshal Sir Jock Stirrup, ViceAdmiral Tim McClement,Major General Jim Dutton, TheSecond Sea Lord and manyothers. Our patron, PrinceAndrew, having placed thefoundation stone in 1998,returned to inspect the finishedarticle in 2002 and expressedhimself well pleased. By contrast

June 14th 2007 - Lady Thatcher speaking with members of HMS Chatham and25 year olds Jim Hailwood & Robbie Dent whose fathers were killed in 1982

10 YEARS ON

10TH ANNIVERSARY

it was hardly surprising that nosuch figurehead would presideover the BBC production ofSongs of Praise for this involvedwearing the same clothes, sittingin the same chairs and rehearsingthe same hymns for three longnights running. Despite theBBC’s difficulty in hiding theircameras within the clean lines ofthe chapel they still successfullyshared the programme live withcounterparts in the Falklands.

Perpetuating the memory ofthose who died has encouragedTrustees to open the Chapel to ayet wider community. ThreeFlower Festivals have brought inthousands of people over theyears. Chapel devotee SadieClare was the instigator, backedup by a willing team who notonly create the most stunningdisplays at festival time but alsocompound the affection thatsurrounds the Chapel byensuring continuous floraldecorations appropriate to theChristian year. Breathtaking

floral tributes were glowinglydescribed in the press but, asmore than one visitor wrote:“Nevertheless….the star of theshow proved to be the Chapelitself”.

Other Charity events involvethe Schools’ concert in thespring, the College ChoralSociety and Christmas carolconcerts. Local schools areencouraged to use the Chapel forservices thereby bringing newcongregations to enjoy theexcellent acoustics. A growingnumber of veterans’ associationsnow visit the Chapel on daysspecial to them when theChaplain will ‘hone’ a Service totheir own specific brief (see page3).

Inevitably the last decade hasseen development and change.Apart from all the domesticmaintenance issues that havehad to be addressed, the Trustees,aided by the College Bursar,strive to keep the building up todate and to that end the newlyrefurbished memorial room bearswitness (see page 2). Similarlythe gift of the three bronzealbatrosses crafted by sculptorMark Coreth, a veteran ScotsGuardsman of 1982, haveembellished the externallandscape and are much admiredby visitors.

In seeking to give a significantmemorial focus to the Falklands25th anniversary, the Trustees,led by Scots Guardsman AlastairBruce, encouraged visitors toleave a stone in memory of aloved one, friend or colleague to

create a permanent cairn besidethe Chapel. By 2007 hundreds ofstones were incorporated into anappropriate form and theGovernment had announcedthat the nationalcommemorations would begin atPangbourne. Her Majesty theQueen graciously consented toreturn to the Chapel andcomplete the cairn by placingthe one last stone. This provideda meaningful centrepiece for theChapel Trustees to welcomeback many families and veterans.Led by the reassuring tones ofBrian Hanrahan, the voice of theFalklands in 1982, the BBCprovided live transmission, againlinked to the Falklands. Thisconstituted a remarkableculmination of the 10 years sinceour patron had laid theFoundation Stone and gave greatpleasure to the first Chairmen ofthe Trust, Admiral Sir John‘Sandy’ Woodward and CaptainMike Barrow, both so warmlywelcomed back.

Those of us who live relativelyhumdrum lives can be inspiredby men and women who givetheir lives for their country.Some of our Chapel names arewell known, some less so, butthere is eloquence and power inthe message that those who diedserving their country are equallyvalued in death. Gray’s Elegy in aCountry Churchyard remainsone of our greatest poemsbecause it concerns people whonever did things that the worldheard about, yet it gives themdignity by setting them besidethose that did. “And some therebe, which have no memorial, who

are perished as though they hadnever been”. That is not the casehere. Regular use of the Chapelby thousands of visitors,especially the Pangbournecommunity on a daily basis,ensures that the legacy of the258 names inspires and dignifiesthe lives of our extended family.Here in the heart of theBerkshire countryside theirnames really do live on. Thissuggests that the Trustees’concept of a living memorial hasindeed come to pass.

Admiral Sir Henry Leach withChairman Jeremy Sanders

L-R The Right Reverend NoelJones, Bishop of Sodor & Manwith Reverend Brian Cunninghamand Reverend David Cooper Her Majesty The Queen enjoys the children & their posies on 14th June 2007

Mark Coreth’s bronze albatrossesbeside the Chapel

Trustees gather on the steps outsideDevitt House in 2008

Her Majesty The Queen places herstone in the Cairn for the 25thAnniversary

MORE NEWS

10TH ANNIVERSARY

At last year’s Service Mrs Ann Grose (mother of Private NeilGrose 3 Para) told us about a Veterans and Families Drop InCentre she is involved with at the Royal Maritime Club inPortsmouth which is open on the first Wednesday of each monthfrom 14.00 to 19.00 hrs. Telephone : 01329 834512 (Dr MorganO’Connell).

Mrs Diana Batt (widow of Lt. Cdr.Gordon WJ Batt DSC RN 800Sq. FAA HMS Hermes) told us about a book called ‘ChurchFlowers’ by Judith Blacklock published by the Flower Press (ISBN13-978-0-9552391-68) which features one of the floral displaysdone by Chapel Masterclass Expert Glenis Smith (page 318).

If you have something to tell us which you would like passed onthrough this newsletter, please fill in the section on your (encl.)Annual Service reply slip.

THIRD GOLF TOURNAMENT RAISES £4,000The Falklands Shield GolfTournament, played every other yearat Wroxton Mill Golf Courseconcluded with a win for the UnionJack Club Team. Second place went tothe Old Merchant Taylors team withPangbourne Governors taking thirdplace. 19 teams pitched their skills onthis challenging course throughout theSummer 2009 and collectively raised£4,000 for the Chapel Trust. Most hadplayed before – in 2005 & 2007 – sothey knew what they were in for andwere happy to return to the challenge. In the main the weather was kindalthough one team was interrupted with thunder & lightning and soughtrefuge in the ‘Club House’ (Jem Appleton’s Huntercombe Kites).

The prize-giving day in October, attended by thirty representatives of teams, was a convivial occasion when the local MP, Rt Hon. Tony Baldry MP(Cons) presented the prizes to eager participants. “ I had a lot of fun over the Summer entertaining Golfers after they had played their rounds”, saidSecretary Angela Perry. “ The support for the Chapel was brilliant and I was so pleased to see old friends and make new ones for the Chapel”.

WHAT YOU TOLD US........

The winning Union Jack Club Team receive the Falklands Shield andprizes: L-R Monica Mercak, Chairman Jeremy Sanders, Tony Davies, BenParas and Kevin Opoe

L-R Second prize winners Old Merchant Taylors (R-L) Colin Heck, TimWalsham & team captain Peter Hawes with Rt.Hon.Tony Baldry MP forNorth Oxfordshire

Tony Baldry MP presents SadieClare (of Flower Guild Team)with the best lady prize

Over the years we have received so many wonderful letters from you about how the Chapel has affected your lives or helped you in some way. Inthis 10th Anniversary year we’re publishing some of these sentiments, anonymously. Please keep the letters coming. They are all hugely valued andgratefully received.

“A very special thank you for all your thoughtfulness…and for all you do for the Falkland families” Bereaved Mother

“My wife and I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Trustees and all those involved in making yesterday’s anniversary Service such a memorable one. Itwas a truly fitting occasion for the fallen and great consolation to the bereaved to see so many people pay their respects in that beautiful Chapel……” Bereaved Parents

“…but most of all we were struck by the beauty and magnificence of the Chapel…we talked to so many people after the Service and were so moved by what theysaid; it was a truly humbling experience and we were very honoured to be part of it” Chapel Supporters

“My wife and I were fulfilled by the occasion and particularly enjoyed the anthem sung by the excellent choir” Veteran Commander

“sincere thanks on behalf of all our members…a most moving and memorable ceremony” Merchant Navy Association Branch Member

“I thank the Trustees for their kindness and care for every detail of a wonderful day..” Visiting Preacher

“…the Chapel has such a tranquil feeling about it….we were so pleased to leave our stone for the Cairn in memory of my husband’s lost colleague” Wife of Veteran CO

“A moving and impressive Service which was clearly hugely appreciated by so many families” Veteran

“….a beautiful and moving memorial of the events of 1982, and especially of the people who took part in them…” Visitor

WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE CHAPEL