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Flags have been hoisted across the country (Image: Getty)
Falkland Islanders have said that Brits could learn lessons about patriotism from them amid controversy over the hoisting of St. George’s and Union Flags in towns and cities. They have been put up following the launch of “Operation Hoist the Colours” in Birmingham last summer. The movement argues that is is promoting pride in the country, and is reclaiming symbols of British identity. Critics, however, have insisted that the flags should be removed, suggesting that they are divisive and intimidating.
When asked if she thought that people in the UK could learn about patriotism from islanders, Cathy Jacobson, 67, who is originally from Southampton, and has run The Victory pub in Stanley with her husband Alistair for more than 40 years, said: “Yes, I think they could.” She added that people on the islands hoist their own flags.
The landlady said: “In the bar itself, it’s got flags up, and it’s always had flags up, and we’ll never take them down.
“The only time we have taken them down is Christmas time, to put Christmas decorations up, but, after that, they’re straight back up.”
Cathy runs a pub in Stanley with her husband (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
“They need to sort a lot of things out in the UK,” Mrs Jacobson said.
It could be the case that people are seemingly more proud of displaying British flags on the archipelago as its inhabitants have had to more recently resist an invasion by another country.
People in the UK “don’t know how lucky they are”, she added.
“England’s a beautiful country,” Mrs Jacobson said.
“They just need to look after it, especially the government, they really need to look after it, and the people, the British people, they need to be looked after, too,” she added.
The pub owner does not really like Sir Keir Starmer.
“He should think very hard on what he’s doing at the moment, in the situation in the world at the moment.
“Don’t bend over to America; we need to be safe in our own country.”
She added: “Just take notice of what people are telling him, the British people.”
Mrs Jacobson does not think the islands are at the forefront of the Prime Minister’s mind.
She said: “I’ve never heard him mention the Falkland Islands once, I think.”
Gary Clement MBE is a Falklands War veteran (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
The UK could learn “very much” about being proud of their country from islands, said veteran Gary Clement MBE, 70, who served as a Royal Marine in the Commando Logistic Regiment during the conflict.
He added: “Falklands Islanders would have pictured, previously of the Queen, and now, I suspect, of the King up in their houses and stuff like that.
“We’re a very patriotic island.”
He then mentioned the bust of Margaret Thatcher on Thatcher Drive, quipping: “I’m not sure we’ll see one of Keir Starmer.”
Tony Smith, 64, a battlefield guide with Discovery Falklands, said simply: “Anyone who is British should be proud of their National flag and should have freedom to display it at any time.”
Ian Cameron visited his mother's grave on the Falkland Islands (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Ian Cameron, 68, lived on the South Atlantic British overseas territory with his family for five years in the 1960s. His mother, Elizabeth 'Lynn' Mary Cameron passed away aged just 29 when he was seven years old.
She is buried in Stanley Cemetery. Mr Cameron, a former lab technician, who now resides in Dundee, said next to Stanley's war memorial.
When asked if Brits could learn lessons from the islands, he replied: “Damn right, they could.”
“I remember when I came back in 2007 for the first time, the first impression I got was, they’re more English than the English.
“They’re more British than the British.”
Others hold a slightly different view.
Chris Anderson, 68, a Royal Navy veteran who was on HMS Sheffield when it was hit by a French-manufactured Exocet missile fired by Argentinian forces on May 4, 1982, killing 20, was in Mrs Jacobson’s pub while on a cruise.
He said Falklanders have a “very different perspective” to those that live in the UK.
“The thing that I would say is that we should be proud of our history, and how we got to where we are today, and how our values have been established,” Mr Anderson, who originally from Eastbourne, added.
“You don’t necessarily need to be waving flags, being very gung-ho, about it.”
Chris Anderson was on HMS Sheffield when she was hit by an Argentine missile (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
“The whole meaning of the flag is different here, and it doesn’t mean we want to exclude certain parts of our population, or anything,” said Coleen Biggs, 75, in her living room in Stanley.
She moved from London to the Falklands in 2002, after living in South Georgia for 15 years, and her family has been living on the islands for more than 180 years.
Her mother, Betty, had a massive Union Flag painted on the roof of her house, which remains there today, and cannot be missed when driving around the city.
A portrait of Margaret Thatcher hangs on the wall of Coleen’s kitchen.
She makes sure to point out that she is not very keen on the Iron Lady’s domestic record but, like all islanders, is grateful for her actions in 1982.
Coleen added regarding the flag: “The symbolism is entirely different.”
On flags being removed from public places after being hoisted without permission, she added: “The sort of thing wasn’t happening when I lived there, and I think it depends on why they are doing it, and if they’re doing it in order to alienate certain members of the population.
“I do think it’s wrong.”
Coleen Biggs has a massive Union Flag on her roof (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
This is similar to what the Prime Minister said in September.
Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC that he is “very encouraging” of people flying national flags, but added that they are devalued when hoisted for “purely for divisive purposes”.
“I think we’re very proud to be Falkland Islanders, and very proud to be part of the British family,” said Jack Ford MLA, the Chair of the territory’s legislature, who lived in Winchester and Buckingham while studying.
“The events in 1982, and the loss of life, and the impact that had on the community, of course, very much impacted that, and it’s all very much still alive in people’s minds.”
Jack Ford MLA is Chair of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Mr Ford, sitting at a table, with a photograph of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the wall behind him, added: “We still welcome veterans on a regular basis, we have close links to the MoD, and for all of those reasons, we sort of live it and breathe it on a more regular basis.
“I think that’s a positive thing that we do.
“We’re a very resilient community with an ambitious program ahead of us - lots of opportunities.
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“We’ve faced a number of challenges, and we are proud of the fact that we have done so and come out of the other end, and living in what is a very prosperous, and safe and stable democracy.
“I think that’s something we’re all very proud of and proud to celebrate, as part of the wider British family.”
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