Harry Billinge

[emmie]

what a remarkable man, well done for receiving his MBE today

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-50925385

[emmie]

Mr Billinge, who holds France's highest award, the Legion d'Honneur, has also undertaken charity work in Cornwall, including collecting for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal for 64 years.

[waterboatman]

A remarkable man indeed emmie.

[emmie]

he has collected over 25k for the memorial for those 22 thousand or so who got killed on D Day, that is some achievement.

[ToraToraTora]

what a legend, history is full of guys like this who have stepped up when needed, how would we fair with snowflake-kind today?

[emmie]

i don't know how we would, we are a very different country to the one back in his day.

[New Judge]

Meanwhile, you get people like this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Rutnam

..awarded a Knighthood at the age of 53 for "public service" (i.e. enjoying a secure job with a higher payrate than that of the Prime Minister, accompanied by the guarantee of a huge, inflation proofed pension).

You have to ask yourself who has contributed more to "public service" - "Sir" Philip Rutnam or Harry Billinge? I know where my money would go. I would also like to think that Harry Billinge (who deserves the title "Sir" a hundred times more than Rutnam) would have managed to deal with a bullying sergeant-major far more readily than Rutnam, who appeared on the telly almost in tears, telling the world how Ms Patel had beaten him up. What a wimp.

[emmie]

NJ, Harry is the better man by a million miles....

[grumpy01]

Remarkable indeed.He was,as my Father and thankfully many others were,the lucky ones who survived the D Day landings and each in their own small way helped to get the country back on its feet after the war finished.We owe them and all their fallen comrades a lot.

[emmie]

we do, this guy has been fund raising all these years, he thoroughly deserves his award.

[youngmafbog]

Great guy. Pity the UK has lost its backbone.

[emmie]

i don't know, many people help out, carers, emergency workers, and plenty of others...

[ToraToraTora]

we're getting it back YMB!

[youngmafbog]

I hope so TTT.

It could well be that there are many good people out there and it is just a case of 'he who shouts loudest' (usually on twitter) that gives the impression that many young are somewhat feeble.

[fender62]

i bet the snowflakes think harry was deluded, fighting for king and country...spineless cretins.

[Mamyalynne]

I'm saddened so many of you know people you refer to as 'Snowflakes' who have no respect for people of Harry's generation and stature - almost everyone I know ans most especially the younger age groups have huge admiration and speak of these heroes in tones of wonder and gratitude.

God bless you Harry and all.

[bookbinder]

Isn't it strange, sad even, that such recognitions of selflessness seem to be awarded a bit too late in the recipient's life? I am thinking of the Legion d'Honneur, which the French award when the hero/heroine is almost gone from us. Why aren't such awards given much earlier in the hero's/heroine's life?

[Mamyalynne]

Not wishing to be argumentative BB but Harry as with many such great people has regularly been acknowledged and received awards and recognition over the years - in fact one wonders how he can walk at all carry the weight of his accolades when asked to show them for photographs ( see below ).

None of which are enough of course nor can they be exchanged for a pot of gold but are a show of appreciation that he fully deserves.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/11DFC/production/_110321237_hi058825945.jpg

[emmie]

great picture mamy, thanks for sharing..

[waterboatman]

Well earned.

[emmie]

indeed...