Lincolnshire veteran wants others to be aware of brutality of the Falklands War
Ahead of the 40th anniversary of the tragic conflict
Mark Trainor, pictured left aged 21, spent five years on HMS Glamorgan and witnessed the brutality of the Falklands conflict. Earlier this year he met with Sir Andrew Gregory (right), CEO of SSAFA, at a commemorative event.
A war veteran from Cleethorpes has recalled the moment his ship got hit and said “nothing prepared me for burying people at sea” as he tries to raise awareness of modern-day conflicts, and in particular the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War.
Mark Trainor, now 61, said he always remembers a conversation with his grandad who said “The fishing, if it doesn’t keep going, go in the Navy” – and he did just that at the age of just 16.
After having all his basic training he served on a couple of Leander-class frigates. In 1980, he joined HMS Glamorgan where he spent the next five years and the ship was hit on June 12, 1982.
Tuesday, June 14 this year marks the 40th anniversary of the end of the Falklands conflict, which saw 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders lose their lives.
Mark recall medics trying “to match up parts of the body” saying people need to “be aware and remember the brutality and horror of this conflict”.
Mark Trainor, pictured at the age of 21, with his South Atlantic Medal.
He said: “The ship was going 24/7 and it was pretty scary, to be honest, when you heard the aircraft, because then you wondered, ‘is it a friend or foe?’
“When our ship got hit, it was just a thud, that’s all we heard. And then we started hearing we’d been hit.
“When we went round to the port side, there was a big hole on the deck in front of the hangar. The hangar got taken out, but there was no panic, you’ve got to deal with the situation.
“Though nothing prepared me for burying people at sea, and I’m very clear with this because it’s still there, this wasn’t like putting somebody in a coffin.
“The medics tried to match up parts of the body as best they could, and they were in bin bags with sinkers on. People need to be aware and remember the brutality and horror of this conflict.
“As a Falklands veteran, I think it is incredibly important for the public to ensure that the Falklands Conflict is never forgotten.
“It’s very hard to believe it has been 40 years since the war, but it changed me, and it changed the person I am today. We must never forget.”
Mark said on board the ship it was very soon recognised that he had admin ability and he became the (Executive Officer) XO’s Writer, with the XO being the second-in-command.
Mark was also awarded the South Atlantic Medal within his 21st year, which is awarded to British military personnel and civilians for service in the Falklands War.
He added: “I served for 14 years. It was the best thing I ever did. It wasn’t easy at first because you’ve got to do as you’re told, but I had a bit of a jump start, from an early age I’d joined the Boys’ Brigade.”
Mark Trainor (left) with Lt Gen Sir Andrew Gregory (right), CEO of SSAFA, at SSAFA’s Falklands commemorative event held at the House of Lords on April 25, 2022.
Mark currently volunteers for the SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. He is the Divisional Secretary of the SSAFA’s Grimsby & Cleethorpes Division, working with the charity to support veterans and their families.
Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO at SSAFA, said: “Protecting its peoples from aggression is one of the prime responsibilities of any nation. The United Kingdom was required to fulfil that obligation when forced to liberate the Falkland Islands in 1982.
“Having ensured the population could continue to live in freedom, we remember the 255 British military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice and the many others who were wounded 40 years ago.
“It is important that this country understands the critical role of members of our Armed Forces in sustaining the democratic rule of law in this part of the South Atlantic and wherever else they are threatened.
“SSAFA supported serving personnel and their families before, during and after the Falklands Conflict, just as we have done for every campaign over the last 137 years.
“And we continue to support those veterans and their families still living with the lasting effects of their time fighting for the freedom of the Falkland Islands. We were there for them then and will remain so now and into the future.”
In a recent survey SSAFA found that 35% of British adults could not remember the year the Falklands Conflict took place, with 92% having no idea five ships were sunk, and 74% unaware that 907 lives were lost.
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A Lincolnshire man who lent his car to a major heroin dealer so he could source drugs for his then partner was given a suspended jail sentence.
Kevin Hislop, 43, was described as having a “limited role” in a larger conspiracy to supply heroin to the streets of Skegness.
Under cover police officers carried out test purchases of the Class A drug over several months in the Summer of 2017 in a special investigation codenamed “Operation Hazelbrook.”
Hislop admitted driving Paul Steven Wilkinson, 41, who was described as the “head of operation”, on two occasions and lending him his car for nine trips.
Lincoln Crown Court heard a total of 33 trips to ferry drugs were made from Leicester to the seaside town.
Six other people were also jailed for a total of over 21 years for their roles in the conspiracy.
Hislop, of West End, Spilsby, had been due to stand trial in July 2019 but his case was halted and then delayed because of the Covid pandemic.
When his case was re-listed following the pandemic Hislop admitted a charge of drugs conspiracy.
The court heard Hislop had admitted driving Wilkinson to Leicester on one occasion to collect some clothes when he was interviewed by police.
Almas Ben-Aribia, prosecuting, said that was in fact a lie, with Hislop making two trips with Wilkinson.
Miss Ben-Aribia added that the car in which the trips were made was registered in the name of Hislop’s then partner.
Michael Cranmer-Brown, mitigating, said Hislop had only got involved because he was concerned for his then partner.
“It is is quite unusual, but this man’s motivation was not to get drugs for himself, but to source them for his partner,” Mr Cranmer-Brown explained.
“He was concerned that she was rattling.”
Mr Cranmer-Brown said Hislop was now in a new relationship and was a hard working man.
“His employers are aware of these proceedings, he works for an engineering company,” Mr Cranmer-Brown added.
Passing sentence Judge John Pini QC told Hislop he could avoid sending him straight to jail because of his limited role in the conspiracy and his lack of other convictions.
Judge Pini said: “The conspiracy for which I have to sentence you goes back some five years.”
Hislop was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment suspended for two years, and must also complete 180 hours of community punishment.
A widow whose husband died from sepsis after eating duck eggs purchased from a stall at a North Lincolnshire show is warning others of the dangers of the life-threatening condition.
Niptoon Tavakoli, 65, made three 999 calls in 85 minutes complaining of sickness and diarrhoea. During two of the calls he told call handlers “I need help very quick” and “I’m in trouble,” an ambulance investigation said.
When an ambulance crew arrived at his house in Lindholme, Doncaster, a paramedic believed he had gastroenteritis and so didn’t take him to hospital to prevent a sickness outbreak, the report found.
Niptoon had fallen ill after eating the six duck eggs he bought at a village show days earlier. He was displaying ‘amber’ signs of sepsis which sees the body attack itself in response to an infection.
Three days later his wife Cheryl dialled 999. Niptoon was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with salmonella. However, his condition continued to deteriorate. He died in hospital two months later, aged 65, from multiple organ failure.
Following Niptoon’s death Cheryl, 63, instructed specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her husband’s illness and the care he received from Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS).
An inquest jury concluded Niptoon died of natural causes.
YAS admitted liability for Niptoon’s death. A serious incident report by the Trust found “it would have been appropriate” to take Niptoon to hospital when the crew first visited him at home.
Niptoon Tavakoli sadly died at the age of 65.
Cheryl has now joined her legal team at Irwin Mitchell in calling for lessons to be learned following the death of Niptoon, who was also a stepfather to Andrew and Paul.
She said: “It’s almost impossible to find the words to describe the impact Niptoon’s death has had on our family. He was such a caring and fun person who loved spending time with his family and friends but also antique hunting and collecting coins.
“The last three years and trying to come to terms with what happened has taken a toll on all of us. Trying to grieve has been made all the harder because of having so many unanswered concerns.
“While nothing can bring him back we take some small comfort from at least being able to honour his memory by now establishing the answers Niptoon deserved.
“However, we feel we need to speak out to raise awareness of the dangers of not only salmonella but sepsis. People have probably heard of sepsis but I’m not sure everyone is fully aware of how dangerous it is.
“Niptoon had worked in the catering business for years so knew the importance of good hygiene, safety standards and knew how to cook duck eggs.
“That he contracted salmonella even with his knowledge shows that others could fall ill after eating them. We just want to try and make people aware as we wouldn’t want another family to go through what we have.”
Niptoon worked in the catering industry and retail management for many years. He bought six ducks eggs at Messingham Show in Lincolnshire on 2 June, 2019. He later cooked and ate four of them.
Five days later he complained of sickness and diarrhoea. The Ambulance Service report said that Niptoon initially dialled the NHS 111 helpline at around 12.25pm and a call handler recommended he phoned his GP surgery.
Niptoon made three 999 calls between 1.50pm and 3.15pm complaining of sickness and diarrhoea.
During the second he had a “massive headache” and told the call handler “I need help very quick,” the report said.
During the third call he reported he had food poisoning, a high temperature, and chest pains adding “I’m in trouble,” the Ambulance Service report added.
Niptoon’s case was upgraded to a category two call meaning paramedics should arrive within 40 minutes.
A note advising it was a possible sepsis incident was added for the ambulance crew to review.
A crew arrived just after 4pm and found Niptoon in bed. He told them “that he felt his organs were shutting down”, the report said.
Following tests, the crew left around 30 minutes later.
Cheryl called 999 on 10 June, 2019, after her husband complained he was aching and had no strength. He also had a mottled rash on his legs and arms.
The same crew who visited Niptoon three days earlier arrived and took him to hospital.
Niptoon was admitted to critical care but died on 12 August, 2019.
Doncaster Coroner’s Court was told Niptoon arrived at hospital at 10pm but did not receive antibiotics until 11.30am the following day.
Sepsis guidelines stated he should have commenced antibiotics within an hour of arrival. However, the court heard the delay would not have made a difference to the outcome.
Niptoon Tavakoli died from multi-organ failure on August 12, 2019. | Photo: BBC/Donna Martin
The Ambulance Service report also found that Niptoon was taken to hospital by ambulance on June 10 under normal road conditions.
However, given his condition and how he was by then showing red flag symptoms of sepsis, it would have been appropriate to have blue lighted him as an emergency, while pre-alerting the hospital.
An investigation by Public Health England found the source of Niptoon’s salmonella was from the duck eggs he bought. It found another person in the West Midlands had also fallen ill with the same strain of salmonella but had recovered.
Following the incident Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it had arranged training for staff and had updated its policies and sepsis screening tools based on National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and UK Sepsis Trust advice.
A spokesperson for Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said: “First and foremost, our thoughts remain with the family of Niptoon Tavakoli following his death in 2019.
“The Trust contributed to the Coroner’s inquest and fully accepts the findings of the jury at Doncaster Coroner’s Court. From the outset, we have acknowledged that the clinical care provided to Mr Tavakoli in June 2019 fell below the high standards we pride ourselves on.
“We are deeply sorry for this and extend our sincere condolences to Mrs Tavakoli and her family.”
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