0:00:03 > 0:00:06Lying at latitude 51 degrees south,
0:00:06 > 0:00:11the Falkland Islands are only 800 miles short of the Antarctic Circle.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16Swept by the winds of the South Atlantic, this wild
0:00:16 > 0:00:22and rugged landscape is home to a population of around 2,500 people,
0:00:22 > 0:00:23many of whom are descended from
0:00:23 > 0:00:2719th-century Scottish and Welsh pioneers.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29There's nothing better than going over the hill and
0:00:29 > 0:00:34putting your dog around 3,000-4,000 sheep. It's freedom.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37It's at one with nature. That's what we're about.
0:00:38 > 0:00:44Since the Argentine invasion and subsequent war of 1982,
0:00:44 > 0:00:46the Islands have seen big changes.
0:00:47 > 0:00:52Fishing and tourism have overtaken sheep farming as the main industries,
0:00:52 > 0:00:56and huge reserves of oil have recently been discovered offshore
0:00:56 > 0:00:57and could transform this small,
0:00:57 > 0:01:00tight-knit community beyond recognition.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09The Rev Richard Hines is rector of the Falklands.
0:01:09 > 0:01:10Good morning.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12A very warm welcome to you all.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17But, after almost seven years here, he's coming up for retirement
0:01:17 > 0:01:20and will soon be returning to the UK.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23So, these will be his last few months on the Islands.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26There's a unique way of life here.
0:01:26 > 0:01:31There's a kind of rhythm that I've been privileged to enter into.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34Are we remote from almost everywhere,
0:01:34 > 0:01:36or is this actually the centre of the universe?
0:02:12 > 0:02:16The Falklands archipelago covers an area roughly
0:02:16 > 0:02:18the size of Northern Ireland.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21The main islands are West and East Falkland.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Stanley, the capital, and the only town,
0:02:24 > 0:02:26is on the far east tip of the East island.
0:02:28 > 0:02:33In high season, Stanley is buzzing with tourists, but now it's April.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Summer is over in the southern hemisphere
0:02:35 > 0:02:38and the islanders have the place to themselves again.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43In the deanery, the Rev Richard and his wife, Jen,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46are getting ready to go on an outing.
0:02:46 > 0:02:51In a few days' time, it's Palm Sunday,
0:02:51 > 0:02:53and there's an important job that needs doing.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58- I've just got to go and get my gloves out of the polytunnel.- OK.
0:03:01 > 0:03:06Well, we're making preparations for next Sunday, Palm Sunday,
0:03:06 > 0:03:12and whereas in the UK we would have crosses made of palm fronds
0:03:12 > 0:03:14to carry on our Palm Sunday procession,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17here in the Falkland Islands, we don't have palms,
0:03:17 > 0:03:19so we're going to use tussock grass.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23The lengths we go to to prepare for our services!
0:03:28 > 0:03:31Richard and Jen are heading out to "camp", which is
0:03:31 > 0:03:35the Falkland Islands word for anywhere outside of Stanley
0:03:35 > 0:03:38and comes from the Spanish "campo", meaning "countryside".
0:03:40 > 0:03:42As they leave the town, the tarmac ends
0:03:42 > 0:03:45and the road turns into a dusty dirt track.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52That ship there you see, rusting away quietly,
0:03:52 > 0:03:54We call it the Lady Liz,
0:03:54 > 0:03:58and she limped into Stanley from quite an adventurous
0:03:58 > 0:04:00passage around Cape Horn and she was moored further up
0:04:00 > 0:04:03in the harbour for quite a long time, then she came loose
0:04:03 > 0:04:07in a big wind one night and ended up here, and that's where she remains.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16A few miles to the north of Stanley is Gypsy Cove.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21At this time of year,
0:04:21 > 0:04:24most of the migratory penguins that nest here in summer have left,
0:04:24 > 0:04:28but there are plenty of upland geese feeding on diddle-dee berries,
0:04:28 > 0:04:32growing on heather-like bushes that thrive in this windswept landscape.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38Up on the cliff's edge, Richard finds what he's looking for.
0:04:38 > 0:04:39Got to decide what sort of...
0:04:42 > 0:04:43Looks all right.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46What we're really interested in is to make sure that we've got
0:04:46 > 0:04:48something we can make a tussock cross out of.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50We've got a diagram at home to help us make it.
0:04:50 > 0:04:55We have to fold it and do things round and tuck it in.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59You'll be amazed the way we get the tussock cross out of this.
0:05:01 > 0:05:09I reckon that 50 crosses would be good, so 50 good-quality fronds
0:05:09 > 0:05:13plus 20 attempts that go wrong and a few more for luck, I think
0:05:13 > 0:05:14we'll probably go for 100!
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Over the years, Gypsy Cove has become
0:05:26 > 0:05:28a favourite haunt of Richard and Jen's.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32It's one of the many special places they'll miss when they leave.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37I think what we're seeing here is the tracks of the Magellanic penguin
0:05:37 > 0:05:41saying goodbye to the Falkland Islands for a season.
0:05:41 > 0:05:47They've gone off into the ocean and they'll come back next year.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54This is where I feel a touch of the old heartache
0:05:54 > 0:05:58because I know that although I've enjoyed things like this
0:05:58 > 0:06:04for nearly seven years now, we're saying farewell, soon.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Things change.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11Very conscious of that in the Falkland Islands at the moment.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Saunders Island lies just off the coast of West Falkland,
0:06:22 > 0:06:25about 90 miles, as the crow flies, from Stanley.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29In summer, it's a key stop-off for wildlife lovers,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33thanks to its abundant penguin population.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36At least four different varieties can be found here including
0:06:36 > 0:06:39colonies of Magellanics and rockhoppers.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47Now that the tourists have gone, life reverts to the traditional routine.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49And, at this time of year,
0:06:49 > 0:06:52that means getting ready to send the sheep off to market.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Down on the foreshore, David Pole-Evans and his sister,
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Biffo Tuson, are making sheep pens.
0:07:03 > 0:07:09The boat's coming to pick up some lamb for export,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12and we'll send them some old wethers, which is
0:07:12 > 0:07:16anything between four and six years old, I think.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18The boat can't come in to this jetty.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21David's dug up the beach and made a pile of stones there,
0:07:21 > 0:07:24that it can come in and put its ramp down on,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27and we build the race right down onto the boat,
0:07:27 > 0:07:32and they run down the race and up and into the crates, straightaway.
0:07:32 > 0:07:33What could possibly go wrong?
0:07:33 > 0:07:34Ha-ha!
0:07:36 > 0:07:39The ship's going to arrive this evening, that's coming in this
0:07:39 > 0:07:42evening, and it'll load first thing in the morning.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44But we've got to build these pens.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46They're not a permanent fixture here, so it's a lot of work
0:07:46 > 0:07:49just for a half-hour's job of loading the sheep.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55The island covers an area of 31,000 acres
0:07:55 > 0:07:57but is home to only five people.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Biffo lives in the UK with her husband but spends
0:08:04 > 0:08:08part of the year here on Saunders helping her brother out on the farm.
0:08:10 > 0:08:16I grew up here from a baby. My dad came to Saunders in 1949,
0:08:16 > 0:08:19and he stayed here until he died a couple of years ago.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25Him and David bought the island in 1987,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28and now David owns the whole lot.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30It's just lovely. No pollution!
0:08:31 > 0:08:33No crowds.
0:08:33 > 0:08:3820 years ago, the price of meat and wool was at an all-time low,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41and the future of the farm was in doubt.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45But, with the added money from tourism, things have picked up,
0:08:45 > 0:08:47and David's two daughters, Carol and Louise,
0:08:47 > 0:08:51are hoping to take the whole thing on when their dad retires.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Quite heavy work, this, for a girl.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00Yeah, but there's no boys, so we'll just do it.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02THEY LAUGH
0:09:03 > 0:09:05You grow up with it, you're used to it.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14The only way to get livestock or any heavy freight
0:09:14 > 0:09:18on or off the outlying islands is on the Concordia Bay ferry,
0:09:18 > 0:09:22which visits each island roughly every six weeks,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25and also provides the main link between East and West Falkland.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29John Thain has been the captain of the Concordia Bay
0:09:29 > 0:09:32since it first set sail six years ago.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36For passengers, our max number is 30 at any one time.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42Domestic vehicles, probably about 14, perhaps 16,
0:09:42 > 0:09:46but you always get a mixture. You get vehicles, you get passengers.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48You get sheep and you get cattle.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Each day is different.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53The weather certainly changes frequently,
0:09:53 > 0:09:55as you will have picked up by now.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02The sheep pens are ready but, because of the tides,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05the Concordia won't be able to return to Stanley tonight.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09So it'll anchor in the bay, ready to load up first thing in the morning.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20One of the most recognisable landmarks in Stanley
0:10:20 > 0:10:22is the imposing Government House.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24Built in 1845,
0:10:24 > 0:10:28it's the official residence of the governor of the Falkland Islands.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32The current incumbent is interim governor, John Duncan.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34He's no stranger to the place,
0:10:34 > 0:10:36having served here as a diplomat in the '90s.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43The whole of this conservatory is quite remarkable.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48We are the most southerly Foreign Office post in the world.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51This is the famous grapevine of Government House.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53It must be over 100 years old.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56This is as far south as you can have grapes. But they are tasty.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04The Falklands are a British Overseas Territory.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08And, as governor, John is the Queen's representative on the Islands,
0:11:08 > 0:11:10at least for the next few weeks
0:11:10 > 0:11:14until the new, permanent governor is able to take up his post.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17100 years ago, we were much more powerful.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20We essentially ran the territories.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23But today we have devolved power to the elected representatives,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26as is right and proper in the 21st century,
0:11:26 > 0:11:28but we still have a major role.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31In this territory, I chair the Cabinet meetings.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35I enact rules and regulations and laws.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39So, today, I've got legal documents to sign, rather like
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Her Majesty the Queen does, when she passes British laws into effect.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47There is rather a lot of signing in this job.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50As well as their own government,
0:11:50 > 0:11:54the Falklands also have their own judicial system and police force.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00Fishing, tourism and wool revenues pay for most of the public services.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04But they rely on the UK for defence.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11Since 1986, there's been a permanent military presence on the Islands,
0:12:11 > 0:12:15based at Mount Pleasant, 35 miles south-west of Stanley.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17But there's also a brigade of local volunteers,
0:12:17 > 0:12:21the Falkland Islands Defence Force.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25Today, a group of these volunteers are being drilled in preparation
0:12:25 > 0:12:30for the Queen's birthday parade, by their very own Major Biggs.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Attention. Present arms!
0:12:34 > 0:12:37We are the local army of the Falkland Islands.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39It's called a Defence Force.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Up!
0:12:41 > 0:12:47Largely a part-time army, it's quite small and we have the same aims
0:12:47 > 0:12:52and objectives as the British force on a south Atlantic island.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55You know, operating a Defence Force
0:12:55 > 0:12:58in a place like the Falkland Islands is something you have to
0:12:58 > 0:13:02take very seriously, really, because there is a bit of history there.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08On the day of the Queen's Birthday Parade, Major Biggs
0:13:08 > 0:13:12and his men will be joined by regular serving soldiers,
0:13:12 > 0:13:14and a massed band from three different regiments
0:13:14 > 0:13:17that's been flown in specially from the UK.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Together, they'll march along the seafront
0:13:20 > 0:13:22to the flagstaffs at Victory Green.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31Over at the deanery, Richard, Jen
0:13:31 > 0:13:34and some members of the cathedral youth group
0:13:34 > 0:13:37are starting work on the tussock grass crosses,
0:13:37 > 0:13:41following instructions Jen found on the internet.
0:13:44 > 0:13:45So, we've got our piece of tussock
0:13:45 > 0:13:50and the piece in your right on the right,
0:13:50 > 0:13:55you bend to go upright in the middle
0:13:55 > 0:13:57then you fold it back
0:13:57 > 0:13:59and then up again.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Don't worry, we've only got 50 to do!
0:14:03 > 0:14:04LAUGHTER
0:14:08 > 0:14:10Not too bad!
0:14:10 > 0:14:14This is an example of what can happen when it goes wrong.
0:14:14 > 0:14:15JEN LAUGHS
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Because the community is so spread out,
0:14:18 > 0:14:22there isn't a strong church-going tradition on the Falklands,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25but Palm Sunday is a popular service at the cathedral
0:14:25 > 0:14:28and so Richard's expecting a good turnout.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30Think this is going to be a good 'un.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33I was full of apprehension when we started this afternoon.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35I wasn't sure how we were going to do.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37It's a long time since any of us had made one
0:14:37 > 0:14:41but, though I say it myself, having just made that one,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45and seen all these pile up here, I think it's job done
0:14:45 > 0:14:49and we just hope they last well for Palm Sunday.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59At Bluff Cove, about 20 miles west of Stanley,
0:14:59 > 0:15:04it's the night of Kevin and Hattie Kilmartin's end-of-season party.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06Putting some morsels in.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10Some of these have got smoked mullet in them.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Right.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16Bluff Cove is a 30,000-acre sheep and cattle farm.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20During the summer months, they also run a successful cafe and restaurant
0:15:20 > 0:15:22here for tourists.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25This party is their way of saying thank you to all the people
0:15:25 > 0:15:28who helped them throughout the season.
0:15:28 > 0:15:29It's also keeping up
0:15:29 > 0:15:33the age-old Falkland Islands tradition of the two-nighter.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36All parties were always traditionally two nights.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39It used to take a whole day to get to another settlement
0:15:39 > 0:15:43before the roads, so to go anywhere for just one night was ridiculous.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Jane and I actually had to start last night,
0:15:46 > 0:15:51just to keep up the proper Falklands tradition, but we faded
0:15:51 > 0:15:53last night, didn't we, Jane?
0:15:53 > 0:15:56Outside in a specially adapted smokehouse
0:15:56 > 0:15:59Kevin is starting on the marinated lamb,
0:15:59 > 0:16:04fuelled by the house speciality, the diddle-dee berry Bellini.
0:16:04 > 0:16:05I can use it.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Pwah!
0:16:12 > 0:16:14What time do the guests arrive, then?
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Too soon.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Er, 7.30.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Between now and then, I've got to cook the reindeer and the fish.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Hattie's a gourmet chef who trained in England
0:16:28 > 0:16:31before she settled on the Islands 20 years ago.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Most of her recipes feature ingredients
0:16:33 > 0:16:37that are special to the Falklands and this part of the world.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39It's an upland goose terrine,
0:16:39 > 0:16:44yes, flavoured and coloured with a few diddle-dee berries.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47It's there and like, the diddle-dee, we just go out and pick it,
0:16:47 > 0:16:52and the same with the geese, we just go out and wait
0:16:52 > 0:16:56until they're nicely fattened by the berries
0:16:56 > 0:16:57and then they're fantastic.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Taking the reindeer kebabs out to the barbecue.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Look at the moon on there - that is just gorgeous.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13So, yes, we've got some Patagonian toothfish kebabs
0:17:13 > 0:17:15as well, to go on the barbecue,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18and then everything else is sort of salads and...
0:17:18 > 0:17:22and we smoked some upland goose breasts earlier
0:17:22 > 0:17:24so we'll have those, as well.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26So, a good feast of Falkland flavours.
0:17:29 > 0:17:30Does smell good, doesn't it?
0:17:33 > 0:17:35OK, I'm bringing your reindeer.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37- Can you put it over there?- OK.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Kev is going to go slightly mad with this light going, "Doob, doob, doob".
0:17:40 > 0:17:42It's too late - I'm mad already!
0:17:44 > 0:17:46LIGHT BUZZES
0:17:46 > 0:17:48What's the history of the reindeer, Kevin?
0:17:48 > 0:17:53The Norwegians brought reindeer down to South Georgia when there
0:17:53 > 0:17:58were as many as 10,000 Norwegians whaling round South Georgia.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02And it was a source of food and recreation.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Now, people find they want their chickens
0:18:05 > 0:18:08frozen from Sainsbury's or somewhere.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11It's going to be a long night for Kevin
0:18:11 > 0:18:15and he can't afford to slack off. The first guests have just been spotted
0:18:15 > 0:18:17on the far side of the bay.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21It is a little bit early, but you know, they are keen.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24I might have to get the bar sorted out.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27There might be a demand for drinks, any minute.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35They've invited around 70 people this evening
0:18:35 > 0:18:39and after a busy summer either on the farm or looking after tourists,
0:18:39 > 0:18:42everyone's looking forward to letting their hair down.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44Hello, wayward souls!
0:18:50 > 0:18:52CONVIVIAL HUBBUB
0:19:05 > 0:19:07A bit of meat, boy, a bit of meat.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09A bit of Falkland Island meat.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Put hairs on your chest!
0:19:12 > 0:19:13- Food is lovely.- Really good.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17I've got to get some of that smoked meat.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Freshly smoked upland goose breast.
0:19:22 > 0:19:23Very good.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26It's always very good here.
0:19:26 > 0:19:27Always.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33Just nice to have a really good evening.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36It's always a good excuse to cook up a feast.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41But one person is missing out on the fun.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44There's been no let-up for Kevin.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47I'll have to have words with Hattie about this afterwards.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50The toothfish is breaking up in these small chunks.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Kevin is actually getting a bit stressed.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55He's very smoked up.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58You can tell - the eyes have got a funny sort of glazed look,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01and yeah, it's going to take several days to get that smell off of him.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16It's dawn on Saunders Island.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19And the Concordia Bay ferry is lying offshore
0:20:19 > 0:20:22waiting to be loaded up with its cargo of sheep.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26For the Pole-Evans family, this is a twice-yearly event
0:20:26 > 0:20:28and they all play their part.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Well, half past six in the morning.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40The aim is to bring the animals down from the wool shed up on the hill
0:20:40 > 0:20:44into the specially constructed pens on the foreshore.
0:20:46 > 0:20:47We'll see how it goes!
0:20:47 > 0:20:48SHE LAUGHS
0:20:50 > 0:20:52The worst that can happen is that they all get out
0:20:52 > 0:20:56and we have to gather them again. That has happened before.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58We've lost the sheep up on the side of the hill
0:20:58 > 0:21:00and you just gather that paddock and start again.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Boat's just starting up.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23And then they'll come into the ramp as soon as the tide's high enough
0:21:23 > 0:21:25and then we'll just chase them onto the boat.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Getting a bit of a drift on there, John.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34The Concordia captain, John, needs to get
0:21:34 > 0:21:38as close to the shore as the tide allows him, without running aground.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43We get about four metres, nearly, rise and fall, so
0:21:43 > 0:21:45we've still got another two metres
0:21:45 > 0:21:47and then you've got that two metres to go back
0:21:47 > 0:21:50so, yeah, like, there's plenty of time.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56The next job is to make a narrow race, wide enough for one sheep,
0:21:56 > 0:21:58leading up to the pens on board.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14In all, 208 spring lambs and a few older wethers
0:22:14 > 0:22:17are being loaded onto the Concordia Bay.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23Most Falklands lamb and mutton is sold to the European market
0:22:23 > 0:22:25and, with prices currently on the up,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28this should be a good year for the Pole-Evans family.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31That all went really well.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34Loading the sheep is always easy, yeah.
0:22:34 > 0:22:3625 minutes and they're all loaded.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38FERRY HORN BLARES
0:22:38 > 0:22:41New industries like tourism and even oil
0:22:41 > 0:22:43may ultimately bring greater riches to the Islands
0:22:43 > 0:22:47but sheep farming is part of the fabric of Falklands life
0:22:47 > 0:22:49and it looks set to stay that way.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Back in Stanley and Rev Richard is looking forward
0:23:02 > 0:23:05to a very special day.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Today is Palm Sunday
0:23:09 > 0:23:14and it kind of marks the beginning of Holy Week.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18We are celebrating and reflecting on the heart of the Christian faith.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20It's the climax of the year, really, for us.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25The 50 tussock crosses have dried out nicely
0:23:25 > 0:23:27in time for the big day
0:23:27 > 0:23:29and are ready to be handed out to the congregation.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37Good morning. A very warm welcome to Christchurch Cathedral today,
0:23:37 > 0:23:40on this, Palm Sunday.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43I feel like I should say straight away, please don't get
0:23:43 > 0:23:46too settled in your seats because, very shortly,
0:23:46 > 0:23:50we're going to take up our tussock crosses
0:23:50 > 0:23:53and we're going to go processing around, singing.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Stanley-based vet Steve Pointing
0:24:00 > 0:24:02has volunteered to lead the congregation
0:24:02 > 0:24:05in a procession out and around the cathedral.
0:24:06 > 0:24:13# All glory, praise and honour to you... #
0:24:13 > 0:24:17This Palm Sunday tradition is played out in churches all over the world
0:24:17 > 0:24:21as a reminder of the Bible story where Jesus enters Jerusalem
0:24:21 > 0:24:24surrounded by crowds waving palm fronds.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29# And we with all creation... #
0:24:29 > 0:24:32The tussock grass alternative has proved a winner
0:24:32 > 0:24:35and should last all the way up to Easter Day.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39What I tend to do with my cross is, I've got an empty wine bottle
0:24:39 > 0:24:43at home, and I usually put the cross in the wine bottle
0:24:43 > 0:24:45and have it in the kitchen, so it just reminds me of things
0:24:45 > 0:24:47when I'm going round my kitchen.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49An empty wine bottle, I presume.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51An empty wine bottle, yes. Ha-ha!
0:24:58 > 0:25:02It's the morning of the Queen's birthday parade
0:25:02 > 0:25:06and, down by the harbour, 30 members of three different military bands
0:25:06 > 0:25:10have flown in from their bases in the north of England to take part.
0:25:12 > 0:25:18It's actually, from door to door, 10,222 miles.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20I did my research before I came.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23We rehearsed for two days, three different bands
0:25:23 > 0:25:25- and it came together, didn't it? - Yeah.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33The Islands are unique in celebrating the Queen's actual birthday
0:25:33 > 0:25:37rather than her official one and a good crowd has turned out to watch.
0:25:44 > 0:25:49Major Biggs leads a detachment of the armed forces,
0:25:49 > 0:25:53along with the troop of the Falkland Islands Defence Force.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00Parade, shoulder - arms!
0:26:02 > 0:26:05BAND PLAYS "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN"
0:26:26 > 0:26:29With a final fly-past by a Sea King helicopter,
0:26:29 > 0:26:33the well choreographed event comes to a successful conclusion.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58BAND PLAYS "THE PINK PANTHER" THEME
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Back at Government House
0:27:00 > 0:27:04and the post-parade reception is in full swing.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13It's an important occasion in the Falkland Islands,
0:27:13 > 0:27:18the Queen's birthday. I was very pleased with the way it went.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20You wouldn't think, being so far away from the UK,
0:27:20 > 0:27:23that people would be really interested in demonstrating
0:27:23 > 0:27:27their loyalty to the Queen, but people here are interested
0:27:27 > 0:27:29and they do want to do that.
0:27:29 > 0:27:35We value our way of life and that is tied to the United Kingdom
0:27:35 > 0:27:37and we want to keep it that way.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Ladies and gentlemen, I would like, without further ado,
0:27:45 > 0:27:47to raise our glasses - the Queen.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49- ALL:- The Queen.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02Next time, Easter is almost upon us.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04There we go.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06Perfection on a tray.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10And Richard lends a hand at the local bakery.
0:28:10 > 0:28:11That's it.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14I can smell the spice in the hot cross buns
0:28:14 > 0:28:17and I know what they're going to taste like cos I've eaten them
0:28:17 > 0:28:19every Good Friday for the last seven years.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22And over on West Falkland,
0:28:22 > 0:28:25it's time to find out whose dog is going to have its day.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28Oh, we're getting desperate now!
0:28:28 > 0:28:30Getting desperate! Ohhhh!
0:28:32 > 0:28:35It's all right, I don't think the judges saw it.