I was Ops1 at Stanley in 1985 when MPA opened. What I do remember is the departure of the first BA 747.
The crew had been persuaded to do a fly past at Stanley to allow those on board to say goodbye. So after take off they transited to Stanley at low level and did a low pass down the runway with a slow wing waggle so everyone at the windows could wave gleefully at those left behind.
IIRC when BA found out about it they went ballistic and took disciplinary action against the crew; all subsequent departures following the standard departure route.