Falkland Islandshold fascination for club members

With a land mass of less than that of Wales, they have a climate totally the reverse of ours. Thus Christmas Day is celebrated on June 25, hence 'Snowballs in June' the title of David Allport's presentation to the November meeting of the Bognor Regis Men's Probus Club.

As a Royal Navy warrant officer, David served a tour of duty there compiling an impressive cornucopia of facts and figures in his leisure time.

For instance, the Falklands have a geological connection with the Ivory Coast off north Africa.

In other times, before the Panama canal, they were a valued stop for ships to rest and revictual prior to or after rounding the Cape Horn and they are twinned with Whitby for historical whaling reasons.

Since the Argentine occupation and subsequent liberation by the British task force, the Falklands are much more in the public eye but physical communication logistics are tenuous to say the least.

The first part of the journey from Brize Norton to the Ascension Islands flies over land to a great extent, so that there is always a diversion if necessary.

The onward 12 hours of flying has only sea below before Stanley is reached with an escort of fighters through the final 200 mile exclusion zone around the islands.

Stanley is the Falklands capital and only urban area, boasting one double decker big red London bus.

This carries tourists, mainly from tour ships, to view the governor's house which was badly vandalised by the Argentinians, the cathedral where the choir usually outnumbers the congregation, the Upland Goose Hotel with beer at 7 a pint and coffee 5 a cup, the one 'super' market, the principal memorials and the multi-service/multi-function Mount Pleasant Centre which is completely insulated from the average severe weather conditions.

The hinterland is rough country with dirt roads, where they exist, and little settlements here and there.

Indiscriminately scattered land mines are still a problem. The club was privileged to see in graphic detail a number of the military action sites of the liberation conflict.

These included San Carlos Bay where the sunken cruiser Antelope lies clearly visible still flying her white ensign, Bluff Cove and Goose Green, the Twin Sister peaks taken by the Ghurkhas and Mount Tumbledown of yomping fame.

The military cemetery, individual regimental memorials and Colonel 'H' Jones' memorial stone where he fell are all beautifully maintained as is the Argentine cemetery.

In addition to the strong three services garrison, there is always a cruiser with its supporting crafts on station, plus the survey ship Endeavour.

Never the less, human occupation of the Falklands is far outnumbered by the sheep on land and penguins, seals and other aquatic mammals near to or on the sea.

This was a truly memorable presentation by Mr Allport, warmly applauded by club members many of whom stayed behind to talk with him or study his comprehensive display of Falkland memorabilia. Chairman Bill Davis could not have chosen a better speaker to conclude his year in office. The club's December meeting will be a gala luncheon with ladies and guests.

The Bognor Regis Men's Probus Club meets in the Royal Norfolk Hotel every third Wednesday of the month. For more information call secretary Wilf Archer on 01243 821388.