Falklands war veteran joins Mail on Sunday campaign to give free passports to Armed Forces heroes

Simon Weston says fees should be waived for veterans aged 60 and over 

Falklands war veteran Simon Weston has joined the growing number of people backing the Mail on Sunday's Passports for Heroes campaign.

He gave his wholehearted support to handing free passports to Armed Forces veterans aged 75 and over – and suggested the Government go even further by doing so when they reach 60.

The former Welsh Guardsman, 62, said it would be a 'lovely gift' to veterans who had risked making 'the ultimate sacrifice' and 'fought to make the British passport something that many millions want to have'.

But he believes the government should waive passport fees at 60 because it would ensure veterans could go on commemorative trips and family holidays while they are still fit and healthy.

He told the Mail on Sunday: 'Most of us are still doing the battlefield tours and travelling on holiday. And most of us have grandchildren that are young enough to enjoy our company still! There's a huge amount of need for us to have the passport at 60 or 65.'

Falklands war veteran Simon Weston has given his wholehearted support to the Mail on Sunday's Passport for Heroes campaign, saying it would be a 'lovely gift' to veterans who had made the 'ultimate sacrifice'

Mr Weston sustained almost 50 per cent burns when the Sir Galahad ship carrying British troops to the Falklands was bombed by Argentinian Skyhawk fighters in June 1982, claiming 48 lives.

Mr Weston – awarded the OBE and CBE for his charity work –added: 'These veterans have fought to make the British passport something millions want to have.

'For those who have served this country and been fortunate enough to get to 75 and older, I think it would be a lovely gesture that they didn't have to pay for their passports... every penny counts. It's a small gesture that can mean a lot.'

But he pointed out many veterans, including himself, could be waiting a long time for 'that extra reward', and they may become too ill to travel in the intervening years.

Mr Weston said that the Government should waive passport fees for veterans aged 60 and over to allow them to go on commemorative trips and family holidays while they are still fit and healthy

'There's an awful lot of veterans who are not well enough to travel or not healthy enough to go away or to enjoy a cruise even.

'By the time 75 comes around, all manner of different ills and ailments could have befallen you.'

He suggested veterans could be given free passports on reaching state pension age, if not at age 60 – his preferred option.

'It's a £100 bonus for your service all those years later on. Is that too much to ask? No, I don't think so.

'The point is: respect, doing the right thing and giving people something to look forward to.'