Sailor killed in Falklands War 40 years ago honoured with lasting memorial in Dunscar

Video report by ITV Granada Reports journalist Claire Hannah.

The widow of a sailor who was killed in the Falklands War 40 years ago was overcome with emotion after a memorial bench was unveiled in his name in the local churchyard.

The bench was installed in memory of John Stroud, from Bolton, who died in a missile attack just days before the war ended.

He was only 20 when he was killed along with 13 others on their ship HMS Glamorgan, leaving behind his wife, Jean Stroud-Mort, and young son.

In a cruel twist of fate John shouldn't have been on that ship.

He was originally supposed to go out on HMS Invincible, but due to breaking his leg dancing on his wedding night and his sailing being delayed while he recovered, he was sent out on HMS Glamorgan.

Stacey Jeffries, a firefighter with Greater Manchester Fire Services, stationed at Bolton North has been voluntarily maintaining the war memorial at Dunscar for over ten years.

When he found out about John's story, knew he had to create something special for his widow.

A memorial already bears John's name, but it is thousands of miles away in the Falklands.

Now, there is a special memorial and bench for John - who was the only Boltonian to die in the Falklands War - after they were officially unveiled on Wednesday, 8 June.

"I can't express my feelings", his widow, Jean, said. "People have done this for him to keep his memory going after I'm long gone.

"People will be able to say 'yeah, that's John Stroud's bench. He was killed in the Falklands.' They are never going to forget him."

Jean travelled to the Falklands seven years ago to see the memorial for her husband - but this means now she will be able to feel close to him, closer to home.

"He's always with me", Jean said. "I can feel him with me."

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