Mary Rose Chief Executive publishes intimate insight into Falklands War.
The intimate letters shared between a serving officer during the Falklands War and his wife back home are to be published to mark the 25th anniversary of the Conflict and excerpts are to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4’s flagship Today programme over the next weeks as an imaginative and evocative recollection of the campaign.
The servicing officer, now retired Rear Admiral John Lippiett, Chief Executive of The Mary Rose Trust, was Lt-Cdr and Executive Officer onboard HMS Ambuscade and his book captures the raw emotions between him and his wife Jenny during the short but intense Falklands War .
She, pregnant and struggling to be brave, was looking after their two children, their errant dog and the peas in the garden, while he, onboard HMS Ambuscade, was battling not only with the enemy, but also with the elements.
“The letters came to light recently” explains John Lippiett. “Jenny and I were immediately struck by the apprehension, anxiety and sheer emotion they captured, something that resonates with the situation faced by our Armed Forces now.”
John continues: “In many ways this was the last conflict where letters were the primary source of correspondence. Now it is nearly all email and texts. Jenny was, on occasions, better informed than me about what was happening through listening to the BBC and the World Service.”
The letters are featured in the Royal Naval Museum’s Task Force South exhibition and John Lippiett will be amongst a group of Falkland veterans involved in the Museum’s “Task Force South: Meet the People Talks” which are taking place every Wednesday in May to mark Museums and Galleries Month. John’s free talk takes place on 9th May at 12.30pm, places are limited, to book call 023 9272 7582. Further details of the full programme of talks is available on www.historicdockyard.co.uk.
War and Peas ISBN 9 781904 459262 . Price £12.99
Further details on www.falklandswarletters.co.uk
