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| Former Falklands Island governor Sir Rex Hunt dies, aged 86 | Former Falklands Island governor Sir Rex Hunt dies, aged 86 |
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| Sir Rex Hunt, the governor of the Falkland Islands who led resistance to Argentinian forces during the 1982 invasion, has died at the age of 86. | Sir Rex Hunt, the governor of the Falkland Islands who led resistance to Argentinian forces during the 1982 invasion, has died at the age of 86. |
| Hunt, who died in hospital on Sunday night, will be remembered for his "courage and dignity" in facing the invasion, the Falkland Islands government said. | Hunt, who died in hospital on Sunday night, will be remembered for his "courage and dignity" in facing the invasion, the Falkland Islands government said. |
| The Yorkshireman took up his post in 1980 but was ousted as governor of the British overseas territory by Argentinian forces on 2 April 1982. | The Yorkshireman took up his post in 1980 but was ousted as governor of the British overseas territory by Argentinian forces on 2 April 1982. |
| After refusing a plan to hide in the hills and outnumbered after a fierce gun battle, Hunt surrendered. But in a final act of defiance, dressed in full gubernatorial uniform, he refused to shake invading commander General Oswald Garcia's hand. | After refusing a plan to hide in the hills and outnumbered after a fierce gun battle, Hunt surrendered. But in a final act of defiance, dressed in full gubernatorial uniform, he refused to shake invading commander General Oswald Garcia's hand. |
| The invasion force arrested and expelled him, but he returned after Britain recaptured the islands and remained as governor until 1985. The same year he was granted the freedom of the capital, Stanley. He also served for many years as chairman of the Falkland Islands Association and as president of the UK Falkland Islands Trust. | The invasion force arrested and expelled him, but he returned after Britain recaptured the islands and remained as governor until 1985. The same year he was granted the freedom of the capital, Stanley. He also served for many years as chairman of the Falkland Islands Association and as president of the UK Falkland Islands Trust. |
| The Falkland Islands government said news of his death was received with "great sadness". | The Falkland Islands government said news of his death was received with "great sadness". |
| "Sir Rex will forever be remembered in the islands for his years of service as governor, and particularly for his courage and dignity in facing the Argentine invasion in 1982," it said in a statement. | "Sir Rex will forever be remembered in the islands for his years of service as governor, and particularly for his courage and dignity in facing the Argentine invasion in 1982," it said in a statement. |
| The statement added: "His passion and commitment to the Falkland Islands will be sorely missed. The thoughts and deepest sympathies of all Falkland Islanders are with his family and friends at this sad time." | The statement added: "His passion and commitment to the Falkland Islands will be sorely missed. The thoughts and deepest sympathies of all Falkland Islanders are with his family and friends at this sad time." |
| Hunt had served his country for many years before becoming governor. He was posted as a 20-year-old flying officer to India amid independence and partition in 1946-47. He later resigned his commission in the RAF, went back to Oxford to gain his degree and joined the colonial service. He served in Uganda, Malaysia, Brunei, Turkey, Indonesia and Vietnam, where he was the last diplomat to leave the British embassy in Saigon in 1975 as the Vietcong poured in. His last post before the Falkland Islands was working for the Foreign Office in Kuala Lumpur. On retirement, he settled in Stockton-on-Tees. | Hunt had served his country for many years before becoming governor. He was posted as a 20-year-old flying officer to India amid independence and partition in 1946-47. He later resigned his commission in the RAF, went back to Oxford to gain his degree and joined the colonial service. He served in Uganda, Malaysia, Brunei, Turkey, Indonesia and Vietnam, where he was the last diplomat to leave the British embassy in Saigon in 1975 as the Vietcong poured in. His last post before the Falkland Islands was working for the Foreign Office in Kuala Lumpur. On retirement, he settled in Stockton-on-Tees. |
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