A ROYAL Navy veteran from Holcombe Brook returned to the Falkland Islands more than three decades after serving in the conflict.

Steve Butterworth travelled with three other veterans, courtesy of the the South Atlantic Medal Association.

The 54-year-old never set foot on the island while serving during the war, as he was based on the HMS Intrepid, but during the poignant trip back, the amateur artist was inspired to paint to chronicle his experiences.

Mr Butterworth was officially a catering accountant, but during the day he was a medic patching up the wounded.

He said: "When I returned home in 1982, post traumatic stress disorder never affected me to any degree, although I saw some horrible things that happened to people from both sides, and I can never forget the smells."

However, the smells he remembered this time around were of a more positive nature.

Mr Butterworth said: "The national flower of The Falklands is the pale maiden, and on Mount Harriet there were thousands and I picked a bunch.

"I was told that they had a strong scent but it was so windy I couldn’t smell them so I put them in my room and closed the door. When I returned later, my room was full of this beautiful aroma, and that is now how I remember the Falkland Islands."

Following his visit, Mr Butterworth sketched a number of images influenced by his time there, including a large watercolour of Port Stanley, the capital of the island.

He hopes to return to the island again in 2017 with his son Adam, who also served in the Royal Navy, and hand over the picture to islander he met there on his recent visit.

The trip also included a visit to San Carlos, which is memorable for Mr Butterworth as his best friend was on the HMS Antelope when it was bombed and later sunk.

He said: "When we went to San Carlos it was a hard day because I could remember being on HMS Intrepid looking in.

"My best friend, who went on to be my best man, was on HMS Antelope when it was bombed in San Carlos Water. It later sank in the bay and I looked at where it sunk.

"We were in San Carlos Water when the injured from HMS Antelope were brought on board but my friend was not amongst them. I later found out he had been badly wounded but was treated elsewhere.

"Going back to the hills of San Carlos gave me time for reflection and contemplation."

Mr Butterworth joined the Navy aged 16, and left seven years later. Since then, he worked in several different jobs including in a factory and as a cabinet maker.

He was made redundant three times and suffered from work-related depression, and later found solace in art as a member of the Rossendale-based charity Veterans In Communities.

He now works as an outreach worker with the charity, supporting other veterans in similar situations.