Betts' Book Spot-on

BETTS’ BOOK SPOT-ON

By J. Brock (FINN)

“A Falkland Islander Till I Die,” by Terry Betts is an accurate account of the thing he knows best – his life.  The book mainly focuses on the personal, legislative and business experiences that made Terry what he is today.   It begins with a family history and records that history of the generations that Terry’s family has been in the Falklands.  He then goes into the night of the April 1982 invasion and the devastating split that the whole Argentine question caused in his close family.    

My knowledge of Terry and of his family began nearly 20 years ago, just after the conflict.  He was working for the Falkland Islands Company at the time and I taught his children in Sunday school with Iris Bagnall.  As the Falklands are a close-knit community, I knew first hand about both of his marriage break-downs and the catastrophic affect the second one had on his business and finances.

As a journalist, I covered much of the union, Legislative Council and business challenges he had to face.  His account is an accurate one, seen from his point of view.  Like it or not, Terry has told the truth as he sees it.

My opinion about the writing quality is that Terry wrote as a Falkland Islander, using their catch phrases and language patterns.  As such, it is a very well written book.  Enclosed black and white photos are reflective of the fact that colour photography didn’t arrive in the Falklands until Terry was a grown man.  Besides, greyscale is much more cost-effective than colour.

Along with the book, Terry produced a CD of his music called “2wo 5ifty 5ive,” which contains biographical songs as well as tributes to those who gave their lives so that Islanders could live their lives under the Government of their choice.  He’s got a good voice, too.

Anyone with a deep interest, or indeed love for the Falklands would benefit from reading this very informative book and listening to the CD.  It brought back many good memories for me, as well as a stinging realisation that some of those very difficult decisions that he took weren’t made from personal ambition but for the love he had for the Falklands and the community in which he lived.  The hardships that Terry has suffered bare witness to that.