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Tony and his memorial in Sheffield - did anyone see the piece on BBC breakfast

29 replies

MargoLovebutter · 22/01/2019 09:33

I have rocks where my heart is and am rarely moved by stuff but I welled up watching Tony on the TV this morning.

There was something so pure and genuine about this elderly man who has daily visited & tended the memorial to 10 men he watched die during the 2nd world war when their plane crashed in a park in Sheffield.

I almost didn't post, because I was worried that someone would come on and say that he's a miserable old git or similar.

I was actually late for work, because I couldn't stop watching it. The sweetest story. If you are feeling jaded and miserable and need a reminder that there are lovely people in this world, watch it on catch up.

(I have no connection with him or the BBC or any aspect of this story, just in case anyone is concerned I may be plugging something.)

OP posts:
LIZS · 22/01/2019 09:36

Yes , very emotional especially as those who died were so young. Hope the weather holds on the day.

bellinibobble · 22/01/2019 09:39

I love this story! Dan Walker is such a good guy for doing all this to honour Tony's work over the years as well.

I saw in an interview that people were coming up to Tony in the street, on the bus etc after Dan spoke to him, and as he's not on social media, doesn't watch tv etc he didn't know how they knew about it all of a sudden. Imagine finding out the guy you spoke to walking his dog just also happened to be a BBC anchor.

I'm local and want to go and see the memorial for myself Grin

millymae · 22/01/2019 10:40

I saw it too, and like the OP found it very moving.
I haven’t seen any updates on the story since but think Dan Walker was trying to help facilitate some sort of RAF flypast on the anniversary of the crash.
IMHO it’s people like Tony who deserve to be recognised by the Queen for the work they do. More often than not they go unrecognised as they do whatever they do quietly without courting praise or publicity and without realising how remarkable they are for doing it.

TheSpottedZebra · 22/01/2019 10:45

The flypast is happening, milly - it was announced this morning.

It was lovely, really touching. And Dan Walker seemed really genuinely caring.

TimeIhadaNameChange · 22/01/2019 11:41

Yes, I saw it, and have tears in my eyes every time I think about it!

No way can I get to the flypast, but I'm tempted to see if my best friend could, as she lives very near by.

I want to know if they've tried getting in touch with any of the families of the men who died - wouldn't it be wonderful if a representative of theirs could be present???

CoolCarrie · 20/02/2019 21:12

Tony was on The One Show today, it was very moving to hear the story about those brave young men and Tony’s devotion the memorial.
I will definitely be watching the fly past on Friday morning.

CoolCarrie · 20/02/2019 21:16

The US ambassador is going and relatives of the crew men will be there.

Nat6999 · 20/02/2019 21:30

I live in Sheffield & my dad used to take me & my brother to see the memorial when we were kids. Sheffield is so proud of Tony & everything he has done to carry on the memorial for all these years.

TheSpottedZebra · 20/02/2019 21:33

I saw the One Show tonight too! Tony seems so fragile. I agree milly, I hope someone nominates him for an honour.

Shame that Dan won't be there in person.

LikeDolphinsCanSwim · 20/02/2019 21:37

Do any of those of you who are local know whether or not they got the paving and flag pole that he mentioned sorted out?

I agree, it’s a lovely story and he has been amazingly dedicated to tend to it for so long.

GwenCooper81 · 20/02/2019 21:40

I'll be there on Friday for the flyover.. What a fab man Tony is. He really needs an accolade of some sort.

LIZS · 21/02/2019 07:58

Yes the path and flagpole were shown on Breakfast yesterday. 8:45 ish tomorrow morning.

LIZS · 22/02/2019 08:34

Anyone else watching live? Tony is doing amazingly well despite being obviously emotional.

AuntieStella · 22/02/2019 08:40

Yes.

The planes are in the air, and will be overhead at Enfield Park in about 7 minutes from now.

Extensive coverage today

Landing in the open space of the park was their only chance to survive the crash. And they chose not to take it, to save the DC playing there.

(very dusty in here this morning)

Samcro · 22/02/2019 08:41

tony deserves to be honoured for this.

AuntieStella · 22/02/2019 08:52

Tony showed earlier how , as a boy, he's waved with both arms at the Mi Amigo.

He's just saluted all the flyoast planes with that same both-arm wave.

The USAF did it beautifully - explaining the significance of the choice if plane and the 'missing man' formation with the names (which is now en route to overfly the US military cemetery at Cambridge, where 3 of the crew are buried).

Also one relative (great niece (?) of one of the crew) spoke beautifully about how it had made the family legend into something much more real, and his touched she was that the children the crew's action saved were still living and commemorating

LIZS · 22/02/2019 08:58

I hope it gives him some sort of closure. He has lived with guilt all these years, that he and others survived because they died.

EnchantersNightshade · 22/02/2019 09:04

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-47323045

glitterbiscuits · 22/02/2019 09:52

I really thought it was marvellous tv, this is just the sort of then I pay my license for.

Shookethtothecore · 22/02/2019 10:25

I’m no where near Sheffield but used to live there. I’ve watched the flyby shared in fb just then but would love to know the story behind Tony. Does anyone have a link?

Shookethtothecore · 22/02/2019 10:28

Oh my goodness I’ve just read the link ❤️

showerpower · 22/02/2019 10:29

Balled my eyes out at this, what an amazing man

Original poster
MargoLovebutter · 22/02/2019 10:36

It felt a little bit 'media circusy' this morning to me and I thought it seemed entirely over-whelming for Tony.

However, I still think it was a lovely thing to do and clearly meant a great deal to all those people who took the time to go along. So many lives lost in so many wars and they're still being fought!!!!!! (Rocks clearly back in place in my heart today.)

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 22/02/2019 10:46

Check out @mrdanwalker’s Tweet: twitter.com/mrdanwalker/status/1080424842921414656?s=09