Independence Day at Westminster Abbey

Dear Editor,

While all Guyana watched twentyyear-old, Second Lieutenant (2Lt) Desmond Roberts of the Guyana Defence Force raise the Golden Arrow Head at the historic flag raising ceremony ushering in Guyana’s Independence fifty-four years ago on May 26, 1966, at the National Park in Georgetown, Guyana, not many people knew that twenty-year-old, Officer Cadet Fairbairn Liverpool, of the Guyana Defence Force had a similar distinction of carrying the Golden Arrow Head down the Aisle at Westminster Abbey and present it from the altar to the diaspora in London, England to a fanfare of trumpets on the same day.

As part of Guyana’s Independence celebrations on 26 May 1966, Sir Lionel Luckhoo, Guyana’s then High Commis-sioner to the Court of St James in London, England, in collaboration with the British Authorities, marked the occasion by, among other things, the hosting of a church service for Guyanese and well-wishers in the diaspora of the United Kingdom, in Westminster Abbey Church in London.

As is customary on such occasions, nationals of the newly independent countries residing in the UK are requested to participate in such ceremonies. It was to this end, Officer Cadets Fairbairn Liver-pool and Haydock West, who were undergoing their training at the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst, and Officer Cadet Harry Hinds at Mons Officer

Cadet School, were invited to be the Colour Party to carry the Golden Arrow Head at the church service. Officer Cadet Liver-pool was selected to be the Flag Bearer, while Officer Cadets West and Hinds, his Escorts. Lining the isle of the church down which the Colour Party marched were Guyanese young men who were at that time members of the British Army, stationed at Honiton in Devon, Southern England, dressed in their uniforms. They included Privates (Ptes) Lambert Semple, Roger Simon, Richard Locke, Maurice Calder, and Ptes. Murray, Williams, Singh, Puddicum and Sardinia.

Yours faithfully,

Fairbairn Liverpool

Lt.Col. (Retd)