By Sarah Atherton

MP for Wrexham

Firstly, it would be remiss of me not to mention the brilliant win for Wrexham against Stockport, which has ensured the club’s ticket to Wembley in May. It’s great news, and indiciative of the high that Wrexham as a club, and as a town, is on at the moment. Let’s hope that this success streak continues against Bromley in the Buildbase FA Trophy Final at the end of May!

Last week, ahead of the 40th Anniversary of the invasion of the Falkland Islands, I met with Leona Roberts MLA, Member of the Falklands Islands Government Legislative Assembly. We disucssed the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Falkland Islands, of which I am an officer, the UK’s relationship with the Falklands and the plans for the 40th Anniversary commemoration events thoughout the year.

Leona’s portfolio in Government in the Falkland Islands includes education, and as part of the events for ‘Falklands Forty’, the Falklands Islands Government, in collaboration with the Universities of Exeter, Newcastle and Royal Holloway, is running a competition for UK 16 to 18-year-olds to win the trip of a lifetime to the Falkland Islands next year.

This competition offers eight places to students in the UK aged between 16 and 18 (in February 2023) and from all backgrounds to win a trip to the Falkland Islands. They will be accompanied by academics and will have an amazing opportunity to explore the Islands and meet its residents, including 3,200 people, 1,000,000 penguins and 450,000 sheep. The Falkland Islands is so unique, with more penguins that people!

To enter, students need to answer the following question: “What do the Falkland Islands mean to you?”. This might be an interest in the wildlife, you might have had a relative that fought in the war or you might be interested in the political makeup of the Islands as a self-governing British overseas territory. Entries can be in the form of a film, podcast, essay or poster. The judging panel will include Ben Fogle, a big supporter of the Falkland Islands, who explains more about the competition in a video which can be found here: https://youtu.be/oOj1R0OZIRw.

This week, I have written to schools in the Wrexham constituency, Coleg Cambria and to the Cadets to inform them of the competition. More information can be found at www.falklands40comp.co.uk.

This is a wonderful opportunity for Wrexham students to greater understand the Falkland Islands, see the unique islands, wildlife and learn more about the Argentinian invasion of the Falklands. Wales has a strong military history with the conflict in 1982. The Welsh Guards are synonymous with the Falklands War, as so many sadly lost their lives or were injured at the attack on the Sir Galahad on 8th June 1982.

With such a large veterans and military community in Wrexham and with Hightown Barracks being the original home to the Welsh Fusiliers, I am pleased that this year, Wrexham will play host to events commemorating those who lost their lives in the conflict. Many are centred around the Welsh Guards Memorial at Bodhyfryd in Wrexham where I know many will be paying their respects throughout the year. I was pleased to be able to start the commemoration by visiting the ‘Falklands Forty’ exhibition at the National Army Museum last week, on the anniversary of the Argentinian invasion on 2nd April 1982.

As a veteran myself, a member of the Defence Select Committee and the only sitting female MP with a Regular military background, I am passionate about our Armed Forces and veterans. I will continue to champion our military.

As always, if you are resident in Wrexham and need my assistance with any local or national issue, please contact me by emailing sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk.