Bench rededicated to sailor killed in Falklands War

A picture of Adrian Anslow in a suit Image source, Family
Image caption,

Adrian Anslow died in the Falklands War when he was 20 years old

  • Published

A memorial bench has been refurbished and rededicated to a young sailor who died in the Falklands War more than 40 years ago.

Adrian Anslow, from Wolverhampton, died in 1982 aged 20 when the vessel he was aboard exploded after it was hit by two missiles.

A service was held by Reverend Tom Fish, from St Alban's Church, to share memories of the sailor and rededicate the bench located in Anslow Gardens, Ashmore Park.

Mr Anslow's mother Rosemary described him as an "an amazing and very active person" who was always pursuing something.

"We have always been a very close-knit family and he was always a very determined character as a child," she said.

He was a keen photographer who liked to play chess and told jokes to all his crewmates, she added.

Image source, Joe Sweeney/Local Democracy Reporting Service
Image caption,

Rosemary and Alfred Anslow with a book that Adrian bought them

Wednesfield councillor Philip Bateman approached the council with a request for the work to be done following Remembrance Sunday.

"I would like to wholeheartedly thank whoever put that bench and inscription there," Mrs Anslow said.

Image source, Joe Sweeney/Local Democracy Reporting Service
Image caption,

The memorial bench is positioned near green space in Anslow Gardens, Ashmore Park

Mr Anslow has Anslow Harbour, in the Falkland Islands, and Anslow Gardens, in Ashmore Park, named in his memory.

He has also been honoured at The Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire and has a memorial plaque in Wolverhampton's Civic Centre.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk, external