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Susan Whitley Memorial Exhibition of Arts and Crafts By
Alison Inglis The twenty-first Susan Whitley Memorial Exhibition has been staged by the Education Department. Held over one weekend, it is an impressive display of artwork, craftwork, baking and sewing. Exhibits are on display in both the Falkland Islands Community School and the Infant & Junior School. The top prize at the exhibition is the Spinning Wheel Trophy. This year for the first time it was shared by Marcus Porter, a year 9 student who painted the wreck of the Jhelum, and Victoria White, a year 11 student who produced an intricate jewellery box. The exhibition has been held annually since 1984 in memory of Susan Whitley, the Home Economics teacher at the Senior School in 1982, who was tragically killed on the night of Friday 11th June during the British naval bombardment of Stanley. As the Battle for Stanley intensified, Superintendent of Education John Fowler and his teacher wife Veronica welcomed into their home in the west end of Stanley Laurie Goodwin and his elderly mother Mary, Harry and Doreen Bonner and their daughter Cheryl, and the Government veterinary surgeon Steve Whitley and wife Susan. The house received a direct hit from an explosive shell fired by the frigate HMS Avenger. It has been suggested the ship's targeting computer developed a fault, but others believe that the British were aiming for nearby Sulivan House where several senior Argentines were sheltering. Susan Whitley and Doreen Bonner were killed outright in the explosion. Mary Goodwin died hours later in hospital from her wounds. Steve Whitley was badly wounded but survived. John and Veronica Fowler received minor shrapnel injuries - their two young children, Laurie Goodwin, Harry and Cheryl Bonner were unhurt. Steve Whitley and Susan's family established the Susan Whitley Trust Fund with donations from the people Llandrindod Wells in Wales, Susan's home town. Susan is buried on Sea Lion Island. The names of Doreen Bonner, Mary Goodwin and Susan Whitley - the only civilian casualties of the War - appear on the Liberation Monument in front of the Secretariat, Stanley. Current Director of Education Mrs Sylvia Cole says "The aim of the Trust is to advance the education of children and young persons of school age resident in the Falkland Islands by the provision of annual prizes to reward endeavour in the fields of Art, Craft, Home Economics and Domestic Science in the Infant & Junior, Community and Camp Schools." Winners of the Spinning Wheel Trophy 1984-2004
Sources: Penguin News 16 July 2004; 'Falkland Islanders At War' by Graham Bound published Sword & Pen 2002
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