Nick Timothy — the MP for West Suffolk — visited a Lakenheath air force veteran to congratulate him on being awarded a medal for his heroic service during the Cold War.
Squadron Leader Patrick ‘Pete’ Peters and his fellow airmen flew in high altitude RAF Canberras during Operation Bagpipes, a 1954 mission that was ordered by Prime Minister Winston Churchill to monitor American nuclear bomb testing in the South Pacific.
Shortly after being elected in July last year, Mr Timothy was told by Squadron Leader Peters’ family that the veteran had been refused a Nuclear Test medal despite his heroic service. Mr Timothy asked the Government to examine whether it would examine and amend the medal criteria.
In September, in an answer to his parliamentary question, Mr Timothy was told by the Government that Defence Secretary John Healey had ‘directed’ the Ministry of Defence ‘to look at the commemorative medal criteria, in consultation with other stakeholders’.
And in early November news arrived that Squadron Leader Peters had been awarded the medal just in time for Remembrance Sunday.
The campaign to amend the criteria was a team effort, with the Daily Mirror running a series of articles between the summer and autumn of 2024 about Operation Bagpipes and the anomalous criteria which had initially denied Squadron Leader Peters the medal.
Mr Timothy visited Squadron Leader Peters and his son Gareth in Lakenheath on Friday 10 January to congratulate the veteran on receiving the medal and to convey his gratitude for the veteran’s courageous service.
The MP said following the visit: “I’m delighted to say that Squadron Leader Peters received his well-deserved medal just before Remembrance Sunday.
“The importance of honouring the sacrifice of our veterans transcends party politics. I thank Defence Secretary John Healey and Veterans Minister Al Carns for taking action to recognise Pete’s bravery — and his colleagues who risked everything to protect our country.”
“I want to repeat my congratulations to Squadron Leader Peters for this recognition of his service and bravery.”
Note to Editors:
See Mr Timothy’s parliamentary question on this topic, dated 25 July 2024, by clicking here.
You can read more about Squadron Leader Peters’ role in Operation Bagpipes by clicking here, here and here.
