RECENTLY retired Wellington rector the Rev Martin Kirkbride has been honoured with the presentation of a stole from the Falkland Islands, where he served during the 1982 conflict with Argentina.

Mr Kirkbride, who served for 16 years as a Royal Navy officer, retired earlier this year from St John’s Church, where he had been interim team rector for the Wellington and district benefice since late 2021.

His unique stole was crafted by the charity Scarves for Falklands Veterans using 100 per cent Falklands wool and, like its scarves, replicates the colour and pattern of the South Atlantic Medal.

The gift was in recognition of Mr Kirkbride’s contributions both during the conflict and in his subsequent work with veterans.

He is dedicated to fostering peace and reconciliation between the United Kingdom and Argentina. Mr Kirkbride became a Christian after leaving the Navy, then a minister and a chaplain to HMS Coventry, which was sunk in the war with the loss of 20 lives.

He began to make connections with Argentinian veterans in 2013 and in the same year a representative of the pilot responsible for the sinking of HMS Coventry met him in Coventry Cathedral to present a letter from the pilot, who was unable to attend in person.

Mr Kirkbride then met with the pilot during a 2013 visit to the Falklands and together they remembered all those lost in the conflict.

A significant moment occurred for Mr Kirkbride when he was invited by the University of Buenos Aires to be a speaker and a chaplain to a conference on the Falklands Conflict.

He was asked to close the conference with the Coventry Prayer of Reconciliation, recited in both languages.

Reflecting on his experiences, Mr Kirkbride emphasised the challenges of reconciliation.

He said: “It is my absolute privilege to work with Falklands veterans and we as a Church have a lot to learn from them about reconciliation.

“We are good at forgiveness, but reconciliation is different.

“It is about truth and justice and there is often a price to pay and, of course, that is difficult, especially as that price is often paid for by the innocent.”

A dedication to honour those who died in the conflict was recently inscribed inside a newly-commissioned lectionary Bible for St John’s Church.

The dedication also featured the Coventry Prayer of Reconciliation in both languages.

The first person to read from it was a retired commodore from the parish whose ship sustained damage during the Falklands Conflict, resulting in the loss of two fellow crew members.

Although retired from Church ministry, Mr Kirkbride has remained committed to serving veterans.

Anybody who served in the Falklands Conflict, or has family members who served, can ask to receive a scarf from the charity Scarves for Falklands Veterans.

The charity gives the scarves free of charge other than postage.

More information about Mr Kirkbride’s story can be found here.