CRAIG Hoy, a Conservative MSP for South Scotland, has met with Rear Admiral Neil Erskine Rankin CB CBE from North Berwick ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War.
Mr Hoy visited the Rear Admiral at his home in North Berwick.
The pair discussed the Falklands War, its impact on veterans, and life on the Islands.
Admiral Rankin served as Commander of the British Forces in the Falkland Islands in 1992.
During the Falkland Islands conflict, Admiral Rankin worked in the Ministry of Defence and played an instrumental role in securing Sidewinder 1C missiles from the United States for the Royal Navy’s Sea Harrier aircraft, which helped to turn-the-tide of the war by securing British aerial supremacy over the Argentinian Air Force.
The Royal Navy veteran was also one of the first Fleet Air Arm pilots to fly the Harrier aircraft and he attended daily briefings throughout the conflict at the Ministry of Defence, attended by Government Ministers.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, Mr Hoy also met with representatives of the Falkland Islands Government in the Scottish Parliament to discuss the conflict and veterans’ issues relating to the war.
Rear Admiral Rankin said: “It was wonderful to catch-up with Craig and discuss the Falkland Islands.
“The islands are an incredible place and they are home to a fantastic variety of wildlife, including close to one million penguins in their Summer - our Winter!
“Recovering and securing the islands was an important, complicated and difficult task, bearing in mind the distance involved of almost 8,000 miles that our Forces had to travel and be supported.
“The Falkland Islanders are wonderful, all fiercely loyal to the United Kingdom. I have some great memories of settlement visits and of the Islanders themselves - festivities at “FIXMAS” (Falkland Islands Christmas), Stanley races, go-karting, raft-racing, archery and sheep-shearing contests, and inter-Settlement darts played over the radio!
“There’s really nowhere else quite like the Falkland Islands, and I would strongly encourage anyone whose thinking of visiting to go.
“Sadly, the Islands were not such a pleasant place to visit for the many British servicemen killed or wounded during the Falklands War and, as I remember the sacrifices that were made, my thoughts go out to those who lost loved ones during the conflict.
“We owe Veterans of the conflict and the Islanders themselves a great debt in respect of their service in protecting our National interests - all who played a part can be justly proud of their efforts and for which they will long be remembered.”
Craig Hoy MSP said: “I was honoured to be welcomed into Rear Admiral Rankin’s home to discuss the Falkland Islands with him.
“We should never forget the sacrifice of the veterans of the Falkland Islands War, or the 255 servicemen and women who died protecting innocent residents of the Falkland Islands.
“We owe our armed forces a huge debt of gratitude and respect for their service, for which we can never repay.
“14 June 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the conflict, and I would strongly encourage everyone to take part in a moment of reflection to remember the heroic actions of veterans of the Falkland Islands conflict and pay tribute to the 255 service personnel who lost their lives during the war.
“Their sacrifice should never be forgotten.”
Richard Hyslop, Falkland Islands Government Representative to the UK and Europe, said: “Today, the Falkland Islands are internally self-governing and self-sufficient in all areas apart from defence. Our relationship with the UK is a modern and mutually beneficial partnership based on the principle of self-determination.
“Islanders enjoy a good quality of life, with growing resources devoted to health, education, and preserving and enhancing the environment. Our population is growing and unemployment is less than one per cent.
“None of the positive developments that have taken place in the Islands over the last 40 years would have been possible without the sacrifices made by so many in 1982.
“Falkland Islanders will be forever grateful to those who restored freedom to the Islands in those dark days. I hope people will agree that they have not wasted the freedom that was won for them.”
