Editing Simon Weston

{{Short description|Welsh soldier and charity worker}}
{{For|the English politician|Simon Weston (MP)}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{infobox military person
| honorific_suffix = {{postnom|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}}
| name          = Simon Weston
| image         = Simon Weston cropped.jpg
| image_size    = 
| caption       = Weston in 2008
| birth_place   = [[Caerphilly]], [[Glamorgan]], Wales
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1961|08|08|df=y}}
| allegiance    = {{flagu|United Kingdom}}
| branch        = {{army|United Kingdom}}
| service_years = 1978–1982
| rank          = 
| servicenumber = 
| unit          = [[Welsh Guards]]
| commands      = 
| battles       = [[Falklands War]]
| battles_label = 
| awards        = [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
| spouse        = {{marriage|Lucy Titherington|12 May 1990}}
| children      = 3
| later_work    = Charity work, particularly for the disfigured and wounded in action
}}

'''Simon Weston''' {{postnom|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} (born 8 August 1961) is a [[Welsh people|Welsh]] veteran of the [[British Army]] who is known for his charity work and recovery from severe [[Burn (injury)|burn injuries]] suffered during the [[Falklands War]].<ref name="simonweston.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.simonweston.com/about.html|title=Simon Weston Biography|publisher=simonweston.com|access-date=17 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514005259/http://www.simonweston.com/about.html|archive-date=14 May 2008}}</ref>

==Early life==
Weston was born at [[Caerphilly District Miners Hospital]] in [[Caerphilly]]. He was brought up by his mother, Pauline and adoptive father, "Lofty". His biological father David Weston served in the [[Royal Air Force]] alongside his mother. Simon lived in [[Singapore]] and at [[RAF Hospital Nocton Hall]] in [[Lincolnshire]] before returning to [[Nelson, Caerphilly|Nelson]] at the age of around six or seven.<ref name = "CatherineJones">{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/feature-news/tm_headline=my-mum-said--where-do-we-go-from-here--&method=full&objectid=19266005&siteid=50082-name_page.html|title=My mum said 'where do we go from here?'|last=Jones|first=Catherine|date=8 June 2007|publisher=WalesOnline|access-date=17 June 2008}}</ref> He has one elder sister, Helen, and three stepbrothers. At the age of 14, Weston was given a [[police caution]] when he was caught as a passenger in a car stolen by his older friends.<ref name=wdl>{{cite web | last=Travis | first=Alan | title=Simon Weston pulls out of police commissioner race | work=The Guardian | date=2 July 2012 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/02/simon-weston-police-crime-commissioner | access-date=29 January 2013 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030041603/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/02/simon-weston-police-crime-commissioner | archive-date=30 October 2013 }}</ref>

He joined the [[Welsh Guards]] in 1978 at the age of 16 at the insistence of his
mother, after he "got into bother".<ref name = "CatherineJones" /> He served in [[Berlin]], [[Northern Ireland]] and [[Kenya]] before being deployed to the [[Falkland Islands]].<ref name="DailyPost">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/simon-weston-bids-become-south-2669557|title=Simon Weston bids to become South Wales Police Commissioner – Daily Post|date=9 February 2012 |access-date=26 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208135520/https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/simon-weston-bids-become-south-2669557|archive-date=8 February 2018}}</ref>

==Falklands War==
On 8 June 1982, Weston was embarked with other members of his regiment in {{RFAux|Sir Galahad|1966|6}} in Port Pleasant near [[Fitzroy, Falkland Islands|Fitzroy]], just off the [[Falkland Islands]]. ''Sir Galahad'' was bombed and set on fire by Argentine [[A-4 Skyhawk|Skyhawk]] fighters during the [[Bluff Cove Air Attacks]]. The ship was carrying ammunition as well as phosphorus bombs and thousands of gallons of diesel and petrol.<ref name="ADSW ">{{cite web|url=http://www.adsw.org.uk/documents/conference/Simon%20Weston%202003%20Conference.doc |title=Keynote Speech to ADSW Annual Conference |date=21 May 2003 |publisher=ADSW |access-date=17 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040527120059/http://www.adsw.org.uk/documents/conference/Simon%20Weston%202003%20Conference.doc |archive-date=27 May 2004 }}</ref> Out of his platoon of 30 men, 22 were killed. The Welsh Guards lost a total of 48 men killed and 97 wounded aboard the ''Sir Galahad''.<ref name="ADSW " />

Weston survived with 46% burns, following which his face was barely recognisable:{{citation needed|date=March 2019}} He said:
{{blockquote|My first encounter with a really low point was when they wheeled me into the transit hospital at RAF Lyneham and I passed my mother in the corridor and she said to my gran, "Oh mam, look at that poor boy" and I cried out "Mam, it's me!" As she recognised my voice her face turned to stone.<ref name="ADSW " />}}

==Recovery==
Weston endured years of reconstructive surgery, including over 96 major operations or surgical procedures. Skin from his shoulders was used to make eyelids, and skin grafts also repaired healing contraction to his nose.<ref>Weston, S. ''Walking Tall'' 1989 pp141,143 ISBN 0747503788</ref> He suffered psychological trauma, drinking heavily and becoming suicidal,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/5100996.stm |title=Simon Weston tells of trauma |date=21 June 2006 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=17 June 2008}}</ref> and admits his behaviour during this time was "terrible". He credits his mother with helping him to overcome this,<ref name="CatherineJones" /> in particular her act of reuniting him with his old regiment. The men of his regiment refused to mollycoddle him (especially Glen White, who ran the Welsh Guards rugby side), which forced him to "face up to the unavoidable and to be positive about everything including especially my future".<ref name="ADSW" />

==Television and media==
Weston has made regular contributions to radio programmes and appeared on television, especially within Wales. He has been the subject of several BBC documentaries and presented his own radio show ''Face for the Radio'' for [[BBC Radio Wales]]. He has been interviewed on many occasions for television news programmes and documentaries recounting his experiences, including appearances on 14 June 2007, the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War ending. He has also appeared on programmes such as ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' (appearing on 7 February 1990; aged still only 28, Weston was one of the show's youngest-ever guests)<ref>[http://www.eofftv.com/t/thi/this_is_your_life_1969_main.htm This Is Your Life (1969–1993) @ EOFFTV] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422082302/http://www.eofftv.com/t/thi/this_is_your_life_1969_main.htm |date=22 April 2012 }}. Eofftv.com. Retrieved on 8 October 2012.</ref> and later ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]''<ref name="simonweston.com" /> He was featured in a £7 million advertising campaign launched in 2000 aimed at boosting recruitment into the police force.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/902853.stm|title=Police ads: An expert's verdict|date=30 August 2000|publisher=BBC News|access-date=17 June 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221064711/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/902853.stm|archive-date=21 February 2007}}</ref>

He has written best-selling autobiographies as well as a series of novels.<ref name="simonweston.com" /> In 2003 he announced that he had been in talks over plans to make a film about his life.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/wales/3034956.stm|title=Movie to tell Weston's story|date=1 July 2003|publisher=BBC News|access-date=17 June 2008}}</ref>

==Charity work==
In 1986, Weston undertook his first goodwill tour, to Australia, at the request of the Guards Association of Australasia. The resulting donations to children's burns units made him begin to feel useful again.<ref name="ADSW " />

Weston became patron of a number of charities that support people living with disfigurements.<ref name="simonweston.com" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefacetrust.org/who-we-are.asp|title=Who we are|publisher=The Face Trust|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061218131647/http://www.thefacetrust.org/who-we-are.asp|archive-date=18 December 2006}}</ref> He is the Lead Ambassador for medical research charity, [[The Scar Free Foundation]], which funds research into scar free healing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Simon's Story – The Scar Free Foundation |url=https://scarfree.org.uk/ambassadors/simon-weston |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=scarfree.org.uk}}</ref> He also set up a national youth charity, Weston Spirit, in 1988 with Paul Oginsky and Ben Harrison, shortly after moving to [[Liverpool]]. However, in 2008, the charity suffered from financial difficulties and had to be shut down.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Falklands veteran loses charity battle|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/jun/11/voluntarysector|access-date=2020-09-03|newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 June 2008|last1=O'Hara |first1=Mary }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=WESTON SPIRIT – Overview (free company information from Companies House)|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02300741|access-date=2020-09-03|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk}}</ref>

Weston is also a patron of the LMS-Patriot Project.<ref>https://lms-patriot.org.uk/news/2016-06-06/simon-weston-cbe-appointed-first-patron-lms-patriot-project Simon Weston appointed first patron</ref> The Project is constructing a new replica [[LMS Patriot Class]] steam locomotive, number [[LMS Patriot Class 5551 The Unknown Warrior|5551 The Unknown Warrior]]. On 10 November 2018 in a ceremony at [[Crewe Heritage Centre]] he unveiled the locomotives new crest which would be carried above the locomotives nameplates (the previous one being the [[Royal British Legion]] crest which the RBL later asked to be removed from the engine).<ref>https://www.lms-patriot.org.uk/news/2018-11-12/simon-weston-cbe-unveils-crest-unknown-warrior Simon Weston unveils crest</ref><ref>* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwe7qesQFx8 The Unknown Warrior's crest unveiling</ref>

==Political activism==
Weston has campaigned in support of troops and veterans and against politicians' alleged failure to support them adequately.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7458224.stm|title= Tory military care plan due out|date=17 June 2008|publisher=BBC News|access-date=17 June 2008}}</ref> He has spoken out against defence budget cuts and British troops allegedly being supplied with inadequate equipment,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/4x4_reports/2481265.stm|title='Don't let faulty kit kill our troops'|date=18 November 2002|publisher=BBC News|access-date=17 June 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040414140237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/4x4_reports/2481265.stm|archive-date=14 April 2004}}</ref> and about the lack of support, health care and adequate compensation for veterans.<ref name="bottom">{{cite web|url=http://www.nqsouthern.com/digitalpublication/digitalpublications/index.cfm?dpid=78&section_id=460|title=Interview|publisher=Hampshire Society|access-date=17 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814180501/http://www.nqsouthern.com/digitalpublication/digitalpublications/index.cfm?dpid=78&section_id=460|archive-date=14 August 2007}}</ref> On 12 March 2007 he appeared on [[ITV News]], giving his opinion on the care of British soldiers in hospital. On 4 March 2008, he appeared alongside [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] leader [[David Cameron]] as he announced the formation of a commission to investigate ways to help restore the "[[Armed Forces Covenant|military covenant]]", which Cameron called "well and truly broken".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7276924.stm|title=Cameron: Military covenant broken|date=4 March 2008|publisher=BBC News|access-date=17 June 2008}}</ref> It was intended that Weston would take a non-partisan, advisory role to the commission (headed by [[Frederick Forsyth]]), with his work taking a particular focus to the treatment of veterans and the compensation paid out to injured service personnel.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}

It is stated that Weston is a critic of the [[Iraq War]], believing [[Tony Blair]]'s arguments for the invasion were invalid.<ref name="bottom" /> In February 2003, in the run-up to the war, he spoke out about "politicians with so many different agendas, spin and bluff and throwing smoke in the air and I have to say even lies... so often that we are not sure what we are actually listening to now".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2752163.stm|title=Blair puts 'moral' case for war|date=13 February 2003|publisher=BBC News|access-date=17 June 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040712190101/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2752163.stm|archive-date=12 July 2004}}</ref>

Weston also spoke to the ethical committee at London's [[Royal Free Hospital]] in 2006 to support the case for authorising full face transplants,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5092384.stm|title=Face transplant decision expected|date=18 June 2006|publisher=BBC News|access-date=17 June 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105163020/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5092384.stm|archive-date=5 January 2007}}</ref> even though he had previously been against the idea.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2522449.stm|title=What the papers say|date=28 November 2002|publisher=BBC News|access-date=17 June 2008}}</ref>

In 2008, Weston criticised the then French president, [[Nicolas Sarkozy]], for failing to attend a war ceremony. Weston said, "He should have got it right", "We in Wales have lost and sacrificed as much as anybody for different causes". Showing his support for the British monarchy, Weston added, "Not for a second would Charles have disrespected the event. He has always acted with a great deal of reverence for the occasion."<ref>"A snub or simply a mistake? Sarkozy 'disrespects' Wales. French president criticised for omission during war ceremony", ''The Western Mail''. 13 November 2008. p. 3.</ref>

In February 2012 Weston was caught up in an angry exchange with actor [[Sean Penn]], who said it was improper for [[Prince William]] to be deployed to the Falklands. Weston was reported as saying, "Sean Penn does not know what he is talking about and, frankly, he should shut up. His [Penn's] views are irrelevant and it only serves to fuel the fire of the Argentinians and get them more pumped up."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17065995|title=Sean Penn's Argentina Falklands support angers Simon Weston|publisher=BBC News|date=16 February 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225091457/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17065995|archive-date=25 December 2013}}</ref>

In 2012, Weston decided to stand for the post of elected [[Police and Crime Commissioner]] for the [[South Wales Police]]. As part of the nomination process, he had to disclose the police caution he had received as a child and whether this caution disbarred him from standing became a matter of public debate. He withdrew from the process, citing this controversy and the perceived politicisation of the post (some sources hold that a caution for a juvenile should not be grounds for disqualification).<ref name=wdl /> During a BBC radio interview on the subject of the disclosure of cautions to juveniles, Weston pointed out that he has never sought to hide the caution.

==Personal life==
Weston is married to Lucy, with whom he has three children: James, Stuart and Caitlin. They met in Liverpool when she was working for his charity, Weston Spirit.<ref name = "CatherineJones" /> They were engaged on 8 June 1989, exactly seven years after the attack on the ''Sir Galahad''. They married on 12 May 1990 and now live in Cardiff.<ref name="JulietRix">{{cite news|url=http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/family/story/0,,2093522,00.html|title=Just another dad|last=Rix|first=Juliet|date=2 June 2007|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=17 June 2008}}</ref>

Weston has met and become friends with First Lieutenant Carlos Cachon, the Argentine pilot who dropped the bomb which caused his injuries.<ref name="JulietRix" /> He was criticised for this by families of those who fought in the Falklands War, which he dismissed by saying "I don't have a problem with other people criticising me for things I do, as long as people understand why I did them. Then I don't have a problem to walk away and say 'you're entitled to your opinions'."<ref>Western Mail. "Weston Leads Falklands Return". 3 April 2002, p. 2.</ref>

==Honours and awards==
The medals Weston received for his military service include the [[General Service Medal (1962)|General Service Medal]] with "Northern Ireland" [[Medal bar|clasp]] and the [[South Atlantic Medal]] with [[Rosette (decoration)|rosette]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/new-portrait-of-simon-weston-is-unveiled-at-national-portrait-gallery-9205137.html|title=New portrait of Simon Weston is unveiled at National Portrait Gallery|date=20 March 2014|access-date=20 October 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021075901/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/new-portrait-of-simon-weston-is-unveiled-at-national-portrait-gallery-9205137.html|archive-date=21 October 2016}}</ref>

His courage and charity work have been recognised and honoured on a number of occasions. He was appointed Officer of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[1992 Birthday Honours]]<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=52952 |date=12 June 1992 |page=11 |supp=y}}</ref> and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the [[2016 New Year Honours]] for charitable services.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=61450 |date=30 December 2015 |page=N10 |supp=y}}</ref> In 2002 he was awarded the [[Freedom of the City]] of Liverpool.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1767193.stm|title=Falklands veteran receives civic honour|date=18 January 2002|publisher=BBC News|access-date=17 June 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014192712/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1767193.stm|archive-date=14 October 2008}}</ref> In 2004, he was named one of the top 100 Welsh heroes.<ref name="WelshHeroes">{{cite web|url=http://www.100welshheroes.com/en/biography/simonweston|title=26. Simon Weston OBE|publisher=100 Welsh Heroes|access-date=17 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517055114/http://www.100welshheroes.com/en/biography/simonweston|archive-date=17 May 2008}}</ref> In 2005 he was made an [[Honorary title (academic)|Honorary Fellow]] of [[Cardiff University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/honorary-fellows-2005.html|title=Honorary Fellows 2005|publisher=Cardiff University|access-date=17 June 2008}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2006 Weston and dual code ([[Rugby league]] and [[Rugby union]]) international [[David Watkins (rugby)|David Watkins]] were installed as patrons of the [[Wales Rugby League]], in a ceremony held in the [[Welsh Assembly]].

In 2008 he received an Honorary Doctorate from [[Heriot-Watt University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www1.hw.ac.uk/annual-review/2008/people_awards.html|title=Annual Review 2008: Principal's Review|website=www1.hw.ac.uk|access-date=2016-03-29|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412040140/http://www1.hw.ac.uk/annual-review/2008/people_awards.html|archive-date=12 April 2016}}</ref>

In September 2009 he agreed to be President Elect of the Welsh Scout Council, and was formally introduced at the council's annual general meeting at [[Llandrindod Wells]] on 31 October.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scoutswales.org.uk/news?n=93|title=Simon Weston becomes President of Scouting in Wales|date=21 September 2009|publisher=Welsh Scout Council|access-date=5 November 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221054744/http://scoutswales.org.uk/news?n=93|archive-date=21 December 2009}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://simonweston.com Simon Weston CBE official website]
* [http://www.htalentmanagement.com/client/simon-weston H Talent Management Simon Weston CBE Client Biography]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Weston, Simon}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Caerphilly]]
[[Category:Welsh Guards soldiers]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the Falklands War]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:British radio presenters]]
[[Category:People educated at Lewis School, Pengam]]
[[Category:Burn survivors]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Caerphilly County Borough]]