A FALKLAND islander who grew up in Worcester is helping to make the city's commemoration of the Falklands War the biggest outside London.

Deborah Ford was born in Stanley in the Falkland Islands but grew up in Worcester.

She will be managing the publicity for the 25th anniversary commemoration ceremony on Saturday, October 27.

It is hoped scores of veterans will descend on Worcester for the anniversary of the Falklands War, organised by the Worcester Trafalgar Commemorative Group.

Miss Ford said: "Events in 1982 played a huge part in shaping the Falklands into the dynamic and diverse islands that their inhabitants and visitors enjoy now.

"The veterans of the Falklands War are held in very high regard on the islands - hundreds have returned to the Falklands either alone, with family or in groups, all taking some benefit from their time in the islands during peaceful times".

"However, for some of the men the battles are still not over - including those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, whose problems may take years, even decades, to surface.

"With events happening nationwide this year, I really do hope that the profile of all of our veterans is highlighted to a new level. I hope these events will raise awareness, publicity and the much-needed funds for veterans' charities, including the South Atlantic Medal Association, the Falklands Veterans Foundation and Combat Stress."

Miss Ford, who now lives in Somerset, came to Worcester in 1978 because her father worked here as a printer. Her parents, Barry and Glenda Ford, still live in St John's.

Miss Ford remembers the beginning of the war in April 1982, when she was nine years old, very well because the Worcester Evening New laid on a chauffeur-driven Mercedes to take Deborah, her brother Stephen and her mum to Gatwick airport to meet grandparents William and Dolly Ford after their evacuation from the islands in the first days of the war.

Her maternal grandparents, William and Evelyn Poole, together with two uncles, an aunt and other members of the family stayed in the Falklands during the war, all crammed into a two-bedroom safe house.

Her brother Stephen returned to the islands in 1994 as a soldier with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, and did another tour of duty in 2003.

She attended Pitmaston Primary School, Malvern Road, Worcester, and Christopher Whitehead High School, Bromwich Road, Worcester, before returning to the Falklands in 1992, where she worked as the tourism representative before getting a job at the government's Falklands Islands Office in Westminster.

In 2005, she returned to Worcester to work for Worcestershire County Council as an administrator for social services, helping people with learning disabilities.

A member of the Royal Family is expected to attend the event in Worcester as well as several officers from the 1982 task force.

It is hoped more than a thousand veterans will attend parade from Silver Street, along City Walls Road and College Street to the cathedral for a service.

Events will take place across the UK and at various locations all over the world including the Falkland Islands themselves.

Anyone who can help with the Worcester event is asked to e-mail Deborah Ford at dford0809@hotmail.com or Terry Langman at dishonour2000@yahoo.co.uk