The Departure of Sir Rex and Lady Hunt

(Falkland Islands Newsletter, No.25, November 1985)

13 October 1985

Sir Rex and Lady Hunt left the Islands for the last time as Governor and his lady on Sunday, 13th October.  The departure of a Colonial Governor today is a rare enough event, but in many ways this departure was something special; it was a significant finale for a very special Governor of the Falkland Islands, and a departure on a scale never before seen in the Islands.  Many will be curious to know what happens on such an occasion and may be surprised at the formality.  We are therefore describing the ceremony in some detail.

There was also a 'Wet Weather Programme' and plan available for an alternative ceremony in the Town Hall if necessary.  It was, however, a warm sunny day.

The ceremony started at 3pm when the Governor's official car drew up just past the Cathedral and Sir Rex and Lady Hunt dismounted from it for the last time.  First they said goodbye to the youth organisations lining either side of Ross Road in front of Jubilee Villas.  Sir Rex walked down the south side saying goodbye to the Girls' Brigade, whilst Lady Mavis bade the Scouts farewell on the north side of Ross Road.  Then, heralded by eighteen Light Infantry buglers, Sir Rex, accompanied by his ADC, took up his position on the saluting dais round the corner in Philomel Street for the Royal Salute before inspecting the Guard of Honour, formed from the British Forces in the Islands, drawn up along the road.

Next Sir Rex and Lady Hunt walked down the Public Jetty towards the MV Forrest, moored awaiting them at the far end, and it was during this walk they were able to say their final farewell to so many of those people, with whom they had lived, worked and shared so many extraordinary experiences over the last five and a half years.  Of the 140 who had been invited to line the jetty were such people as the Spruces and the Hardcastles from the Falkland Islands Company, the JPs including Mr and Mrs Harry Milne and Mrs Emma Steen, the Heads of Government Departments and their wives, such as Mr Gerald Cheek who heads the Air Service, the Colonial Postmaster Mr Bill Etheridge and the Customs Officer and Harbour Master Mr Les Halliday.  then came members of the Grassland Trials Unit such as Mr and Mrs Tom Davies and Dr and Mrs Andy Douse.  Of course Velma Malcolm, the Secretary of our Falklands Branch was there with her husband George.  As Sir Rex shook the hand of Patrick Watts MBE, memories of that fateful broadcast in the early morning of 2nd April 1982 must have come flooding back.  Then on to Madge Biggs, the Pitalugas, Syd and Betty Miller, the Luxtons and the Binnies, the Councillors and then the Falkland Islands Defence Force who gallantly helped to defend the Governor and finally the Government House staff and the clergy with the Commander of the British Forces in the Falkland Islands.

As Sir Rex and Lady Hunt boarded the MV Forrest, the Governor's flat was broken at the masthead and the Light Infantry buglers sounded their final call.  Then while the Forrest sailed up the harbour to a point opposite Government House and then towards the RFA Sir Geraint, two Islander aircraft from the Government Air Service flew past, and a 17-gun salute was fired from Victory Green, where the Union Flag was dipped and then lowered.

Finally Sir Rex and Lady Hunt went on board the Sir Geraint for their passage away from the Falklands for the last time and back to England.

As RFA Sir Geraint, with the Governor's flag flying at the masthead escorted by HMS Protector, passed through the Narrows, Phantoms from RAF Stanley flew past in salute.  In sharp contrast to that other departure on 3rd April 1982, this was the ultimate acknowledgement to one of the most celebrated Governors of the Falkland Islands.

This article first appeared in the Falkland Islands Newsletter, Edition 25, November 1985.  The Falkland Islands Association is an independent organisation which brings together those who support the continuing freedom of the people of the Falkland Islands.  Its Constitution states that its objectives are to assist the people of the Falkland Islands to decide their own future for themselves without being subjected to pressure direct or indirect from any quarter.

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