‘Ride of Respect’ reaches Barry

Glamorgan Star news 22/06/2022

1 minute read

Welsh Guardsman Greg Thomas (left) died on board the Sir Galahad.

The Vale Council showed its support for The Welsh Guards 40th Anniversary Ride of Respect when it travelled through Barry.

The motorcycle event, which is held over four days, visited the town on Wednesday, 22nd June, to remember and honour The Welsh Guards and those associated with the regiment.

It pays tribute to soldiers who tragically lost their lives in the Falklands Conflict 40 years ago and aims to raise awareness at the locations of Falklands Memorials.

The Ride of Respect will visit memorials throughout the country dedicated to the Falklands Conflict, which took place in 1982. The ride spans a total distance of over 1,000 miles and started at Combermere Barracks, Windsor on Tuesday. It will finish at the Welsh Guards Memorial in Wrexham on Friday afternoon.

The riders arrived at Barry Cenotaph at 9.05am. There, they laid a wreath at the Falklands Memorial in memory of Guardsman Raymond Gregory ‘Greg’ Thomas of the Welsh Guards, who died on board the Sir Galahad on June 8, 1982.

Greg Thomas was born in Barry and attended Gladstone Road Primary School along with his brother and sisters. His name is recorded in the Hall of Memory at Barry Memorial Hall and on a plaque in Merthyr Dyfan church.

The Council will also be showing its support for the Armed Forces by celebrating Armed Forces Day on Saturday, 25th June.

The Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan, Cllr Susan Lloyd Selby along with the Leader Cllr Lis Burnett and other dignitaries will be holding a short service outside the Civic Offices at 12.00pm

Cllr Edward Williams, the Vale Council Armed Forces Champion, said: “It was a privilege and an honour to welcome this event and the riders to the Vale.

“The gratitude we owe our Armed Forces, both past and present, is immeasurable and we will never forget the sacrifices they made and the impact of the conflict on their families.”