It sums up everything that reminds me just why I love the old steel city of Sheffield so much.
It's big heart.
For those that don't know the old man in the photo is ordinary Sheffielder Tony Foulds.
In 1944 he was playing in Encliffe Park , Sheffield when an American bomber crashed nearby killing 9 crew and he was so affected by the disaster he single handedly tended a memorial for the lost airmen for a lifetime.
Yesterday Sheffielders remembered the lost men by gathering in their thousands to watch a commemorative fly past of the crash site and I found it incredibly moving that Tony Foulds was there leading the tributes with an open arm wave, a few tears and perhaps some final closure on a childhood trauma.
,I think the day will be emotional and healing
And the sight of that uneven, slightly grubby, inner city skyline with the Town Hall tower competing with the square hunk that is The Royal Hallamshire hospital and the city in between encompassed by seven low hills, will bring a tear to my eye.
Yes, I saw this on the news yesterday. Very moving indeed. The shot-down aircraft deliberately avoided hitting a group of children who were playing in the park (Tony Foulds among them) and crashed into a nearby stand of trees. Tony Foulds said he remembers the pilot waving the kids away as the plane came down.
ReplyDeleteYes....I think the story has the making of a film
DeleteSounds like home, John.
ReplyDeleteA spiritual one perhaps jimbo
DeleteI have fond memories of Endcliffe Park - my gran often used to take me to play there as a kid despite us living at the other end of Sheffield (near the Northern General Hospital).
ReplyDeleteWe always made a day trip of it - Endcliffe Park and then the Botanical Gardens.
Alas the only times I've been home in the last 10 years has been for funerals and to sell the old family home.
I fancy a long weekend there visiting some old stomping grounds - Abbeyfield Park, Endcliffe Park and the Botanical Gardens, Rivelin Valley and Park, Burgreave Cemetary (where three generations of my family are interred).
Would be good to go back and play tourist in my home town for a few days!
Hope your visit is good!
I bought a pane of glass in the Newly reconstructed botanical garden glass house in The Prof's name for his birthday once.
DeleteWhen you revisit , see if you can see it
Will do - really hoping I can get a trip up there this year.
DeleteI like Sheffield too. H.I. was born and bred there.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you both should give it a visit too
DeleteShe only goes up for the death of a relative. The last one was sister. Well, an uncle actually but she didn't go to that funeral. I would go just to stay in the Peak districts.
DeleteI cried when I saw this yesterday. Such brave and selfless men who died. And hopefully some closure for the wee boy who has felt guilt all this time. The memorial is so lovely that he tends almost daily and which his son has promised to tend after his father’s death. Well done to the people of Sheffield who turned out to watch the fly past. I hope your day with your former colleagues is a happy, healing time for you today, John.
ReplyDeleteI read about this on another’s blog. A heartbreaking story of bravery and selflessness.
ReplyDeleteSeeing old friends is good for the soul. It is so much fun to talk and laugh about your shared memories. Enjoy your reunion.
Haven't heard that story here in the states. Made me cry (again).
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your reunion, John. It will be good to catch up and remember other good times and good friends. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteWhat a touching and life changing moment. I had never heard that story. Such a wonderful tribute.
ReplyDeleteFly-pasts with the missing man formation always makes me cry. It has been in the news here. Family members have come from the states to be there.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time with old friends.
cheers, parsnip
I read this on Pat's blog. It is so touching. Enjoy your catch up visit John.
ReplyDeleteWhat a selfless group of airmen were in that plane on that long ago day.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy yourself!
Hugs!
When we have real heartaches in our lives, just imagine the unimaginable burden that man has been carrying all his life!
ReplyDeleteIt's been in our national news in the States several times lately. I hope dear Mr. Foulds finds his heart a bit lighter now. And I hope you have a wonderful day, John!
I was watching Tony Foulds talking on The One Show about the plane tragedy, he had everyone tearing up. He's a lovely guy.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful time back 'home' ... you're a lovely guy too. xx
Also saw him on The One Show ....... it was very moving and amazing at how many people turned up for the fly past. The whole thing has affected Tony for his whole life and I love that it was all arranged from a chance meeting with Dan Walker in the Park whilst he was walking his dog and Tony was tending the memorial..... fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHave a brilliant reunion John ..... it’s good to catch up.... cathartic sonetimes I think. XXXX
I have been reading books on trauma and the lifelong impact it has on people, some dramatic and productive, sometimes not. Enjoy the visit, it is okay to go home again. We change the places we life, and the places change us.
ReplyDeleteSaw this moving tribute on the news yesterday. What a sacrifice by brave young men and how wonderful that Tony Foulds has kept their memory alive.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't Rome have seven hills? Or maybe it's five. Anyway, I hope you have a good trip and I hadn't heard the Tony Foulds story. It's impressive that he took the tragedy to heart at such a young age.
ReplyDeleteThere was a report about aTony on the radio. A lifetime of dedication to those tragically lost
ReplyDeleteI have followed the story since its early beinnings last year John and I watched the Fly Past with tears streaming down my face - such a moving occasion.
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful story. have a great reunion and a fun time!
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ReplyDeleteIt was very touching watching on the tv. Also sad that for all these years he has blamed himself for the crash. I hope he can relieve himself of the guilt now which should never have been there in the first place .Enjoy your weekend in Sheffield beautiful surrounding countryside.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading about him. All his life he's felt responsible for those men's' deaths! So hard to believe he lived with that guilt. I hope this wonderful man has closure now, and is rewarded for a job well done.
ReplyDeleteI had read about Tony and what a wonderful thing the fly past happened. What a decent person he is.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your reunion.
My sister died at St. Luke's in Sheffield and all her medical care over 3-1/2 years took place in that city and yet I have sweet memories of the place. Maybe because her care was so exceptional. Maybe because I had my first Scrumpy (too much scrumpy) in a pub in the hills.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful tribute. I have never heard this story before and I thought I had heard just about every story from WWII. Hope you have a lovely time catching up with your friends.
ReplyDeleteI think that flyover, and Mr. Foulds are incredible.
ReplyDeleteI love this story saw it on TV here in Canada what a treat and tribute to Tony.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time today John surrounded by your many friends.
Beautifully stirring moment.
ReplyDeleteBetween you and Yorkshire Pudding, you've done a good job of educating those of us who hadn't heard this story before. Very moving and Mr. Foulds is an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteMr. Foulds is an inspiration as are you. Did you have a grand time? We all hope so.
ReplyDeleteMy husband was born in Sheffield so we were watching all this week's goings on with great interest.
ReplyDeletei watched it all on the news. I heard a couple of weeks ago that they were going to do a fly by. What a wonderful man to attend the memorial every single day and refer to the lost men as 'family'. Apparently a newsman called Dan was walking his dog and met Tony and heard his incredible story. I think Dan went to great lengths to make this marvellous day happen and hats off to him for making Tony's day. Very emotional - myself and husband were crying buckets!!!
ReplyDeleteI saw the story last night on the news here in the US. I had never heard it before. Is life truly changed in that moment that he and his friends were in the park. His dedication and remembering those soldiers lost so long ago, is humbling.
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