Simon Weston: Moving On

Simon Weston's life as a young Welsh guardsman was blown apart when Argentinian planes bombed the British supply ship the "Sir Galahad" during the Falklands conflict of 1982. Many of his friends died in the blast and fire that followed. Simon escaped with horrific burns to become a hero, as he struggled to rebuild his life, and to provide inspiration for others. Two autobiographies and a series of television documentaries have kept Simon in the public eye, but you don't remain famous simply for being famous. In these pages Simon brings his story up to date for 2003, providing more insights into the events that have shaped his life. After more than 70 operations to repair his damaged face and body, Simon has jumped with the Red Devils and run the New York marathon, raising money for Weston Spirit, the young people's charity that bears his name. His work on behalf of others has brought him an OBE, the freedom of Liverpool, and much recognition. But Simon's story has darker moments, too. Family rifts and the ticking time bomb of post-traumatic stress cast shadows across his road to recovery. This volume sees Weston at last lay his Falklands ghost to rest. Two meetings with the Argentinian pilot who bombed the "Sir Galahad" have strengthened his conviction that there are no winners in war, only losers on both sides. In a third and final return to the islands, Simon confronts the magnitude of loss and bids goodbye to the old self he left behind.