As a tribute to the Falklands 40th anniversary members of the HMS Ardent Association, including family members of the fallen, marched as one platoon at the Cenotaph.

The children of St Edward’s School in Poole held a special assembly to remember and reflect on the contribution and sacrifices made by service men and women. They also paid special tribute to Stephen Ford who was a pupil at their school growing up around Constitution Hill.

The HMS Ardent Association is probably the oldest of the Falkland Conflict Associations and has met every year for the past 40 years. It not only represents the survivors but the families of the fallen and all those who served on her previously. It was felt that to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falkland Conflict and the formation of our own Association it would be a fitting tribute to our fallen shipmates to have a dedicated platoon at this years London Cenotaph march past on Remembrance Sunday .

Queen Elizabeth understood the sacrifices by the men and women of the armed services and the pain of bereaved families. In addition to awarding military honours, she introduced the Elizabeth Cross. It was the first medal to which the Queen put her name. Instituted in 2009, it gives special recognition to the families of those who have died on military operations or as a result of terrorism, since 1948.

In a major change for the Association we are looking at holding the service of remembrance in the National Memorial Arboretum, at our remembrance Anchor, on Saturday 27 May 2023.

The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne College held the Falklands 40th service of remembrance on Sunday 12 June 2022. Shipmate Nigel Langhorn shared some photographs of the event.

With over 220 people in the church of St Nicholas in HMS Drake the HMS Ardent Association, led by the ships patron HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, paid tribute to the 22 fallen shipmates who were killed in action on the 21 May 1982 during the Battle for Falkland Sound.

Shipmates, families of the fallen and the general public remembered our 22 fallen shipmates around the UK and beyond on the 40th anniversary of the Battle for Falkland Sound, 21 May 1982.

Actor Katherine Parkinson is given a HMS Ardent Association Challenge Coin after the recording of the IWM Podcast for the Falklands Conflict which also featured ARDENT survivor Richard (Richie) Gough.

The story of those who died when HMS Ardent was bombed and sunk in Falkland Sound on May 21, 1982, was first told in the book 'Through Fire and Water' published in 2001. It is now part of a streaming documentary produced by author Mark Higgitt to be released on 21 May 2022.

On Monday 25 April, SSAFA commemorated the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict with a reception in the House of Lords.

Hosted by the Rt Hon. the Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC, former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, who was Captain of HMS Ardent which was sunk during the conflict.

A painting by artist David Ball commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War. It shows the carrier HMS Invincible, the frigate HMS Ardent, Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Sir Galahad, Stromness and ‘The Great White Whale’, the commandeered and converted troopship Canberra sailing in the Atlantic Ocean on their way to the Falklands.

Work to refurbish the Falklands Maritime Memorial in the Belvedere Garden of Remembrance on Plymouth Hoe is complete and it is now fully restored thanks to the work of HMS Ardent Association founders Tony Ray and Lenny Yeatman.

Veterans are getting ready to mark the 40th occasion of our 40th anniversary of the 1982 Falklands Conflict with events planned around the UK and in the Falkland Islands.

Image copyright: Falklands Goverment

Tony Ray has managed to have the Association added to the list of organisations to be allocated places for the parade past the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day next year. Tony will be the lead contact.

The 7th Southampton (Bassett) Scout Group have a memorial award dedicated to Lt Cdr John Sephton DFC called the 'John Sephton Award' that is awarded for personal endeavour to those who show bravery and continue to take part in Scouting through difficult times in their life.

COVID and lockdowns were hard on youth organisations like T.S. Ardent but they are back to business as usual and in a newly refreshed home for the cadets.

Ken Enticknap from The HMS Ardent Association presented challenge coins to the members of the Royal Navy Sea Survival Training Centre (Ardent Building) on the 1 September 2021. This was in recognition of their fund raising in recognition of their fundraising efforts for the RNRMC in March 2021 whilst completing the virtual return distance between SSTCs Ardent building in Portsmouth and the HMS Ardent memorial in Stafford.