Every story I read about Bernard Jordan just makes me smile and I have decided to use my blog to promote his exploits just in case you haven’t heard of him. Admittedly, my UK readers will probably have some knowledge but my US and Australian visitors may not be familiar with this delightful chap.
Watching/reading the news can be pretty gloomy and depressing; genuine feel good stories are few and far between - the Bernard Jordan items though tick all the boxes for brightening up your day.
By way of a synopsis, Bernard, who has just turned ninety and lives with his wife in a residential home in Hove, was a Royal Navy officer on D-Day. He was determined to be part of the 70th D-Day commemorations and when booking an official ticket proved to be challenging, he refused to accept defeat and made his own way to Normandy instead.
No big deal perhaps – but the thing is that he didn’t tell his care home officials and his disappearance prompted a man hunt by Sussex Police. Once it was known that he was safe and well in France, his story of derring-do became a great showcase of the kind of determination that helped the allies turn the tide of World War Two.
Bernard is now something of a celebrity and justifiably so in my opinion; he is likely to be awarded the freedom of Brighton, he received 2,500 cards for his 90th birthday and his photos and story have been all over the media. Despite all the attention, Bernard uses his air time to promote the cause of all the other surviving veterans and those that died for their country. He doesn’t think that he is special and that sentiment just proves that he is.
What a character! What an inspiration! He's that cool that if he wasn't married, I'd be trying to introduce him to my Nan.
Here are links to a number of published pieces on the BBC news website. Please read these articles and make up your own mind.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-27874035
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-27735086
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-27778035
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-27746379
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Watching/reading the news can be pretty gloomy and depressing; genuine feel good stories are few and far between - the Bernard Jordan items though tick all the boxes for brightening up your day.
By way of a synopsis, Bernard, who has just turned ninety and lives with his wife in a residential home in Hove, was a Royal Navy officer on D-Day. He was determined to be part of the 70th D-Day commemorations and when booking an official ticket proved to be challenging, he refused to accept defeat and made his own way to Normandy instead.
No big deal perhaps – but the thing is that he didn’t tell his care home officials and his disappearance prompted a man hunt by Sussex Police. Once it was known that he was safe and well in France, his story of derring-do became a great showcase of the kind of determination that helped the allies turn the tide of World War Two.
Bernard is now something of a celebrity and justifiably so in my opinion; he is likely to be awarded the freedom of Brighton, he received 2,500 cards for his 90th birthday and his photos and story have been all over the media. Despite all the attention, Bernard uses his air time to promote the cause of all the other surviving veterans and those that died for their country. He doesn’t think that he is special and that sentiment just proves that he is.
What a character! What an inspiration! He's that cool that if he wasn't married, I'd be trying to introduce him to my Nan.
Here are links to a number of published pieces on the BBC news website. Please read these articles and make up your own mind.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-27874035
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-27735086
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-27778035
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-27746379
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