THE 90-year-old mother of a Falklands War veteran has helped pay a special tribute to her son’s comrades.

Bury-born businessman David Ramsden was a sub-lieutenant and bridge watch keeper on HMS Plymouth — the first navy ship to reach the islands in the South Atlantic in April 1982.

David was stationed off South Georgia when Argentinian fighter jets sank HMS Sheffield and also witnessed the attacks on HMS Argonaut and HMS Archant.

His own ship was attacked on June 8 and was hit by five bombs dropped by the Argentine Air Force.

Now almost 40 years later, David still meets up with his fellow seamen and is hoping to take them a special gift in 2022 to mark four decades since the conflict after his mum, Margaret Ramsden, who still lives in Bury, began contributing to the Scarves for Falklands Veterans campaign.

Founded by Falklands native Rachel Simons, the campaign aims to provide every veteran of the conflict with a hand-knitted scarf in the green and blue colours of the South Atlantic medal.

“Mum has always been a knitter especially in her later years,” said David. “She managed to get a pattern from the Facebook group and made me one which turned up in the post for me.

“The 15 officers on HMS Plymouth get together every year for a reunion and only recently has Captain David Pentreath and Alasdair Walker, the ship’s doctor, passed away

“I thought it would be nice to set mum the task of knitting a scarf for each of the remaining officers and that’s exactly what she’s done.

“It really is no mean feat for her to knit so many, aged 90.”

David, 61, is now planning to post the scarves out as a surprise for his old shipmates.

“We were supposed to get together last year but that obviously didn’t happen but I really hope we can meet next year,” said David, who now lives in Cleethorpes.

“It is always very emotional when the old stories came out and I can remember everything that happened that June 8 like it was yesterday.”