Recently on BBC TV, they have been looking back over the
last year at notable events in sport, politics, entertainment, the environment
and common interest stories.
2019 featured Eilud Kipchoge becoming the first man to run a marathon in under 2hrs, General elections, Brexit and Climate activist Greta Thunberg. Then there were three men who appeared on BBC Breakfast and brought us to tears winning the hearts of many viewers: Harry Billinge, Tony Foulds and Terrence.
These people and events got
me thinking about the thing they all had in common – the Power of One.
Harry Billinge, from St.
Austell Cornwall was 18 when he landed on Gold Beach in June of 1944. In June
2019, aged 94, he returned to Normandy to mark the 75th anniversary
of the D-Day landings. Harry has now raised over £25,000 to put towards the
cost of a national memorial to honour his fallen comrades. He moved many to
tears, including the BBC presenter who interviewed him, by saying “Don’t thank
me and don’t say I’m a hero, all the heroes are dead and I will never forget
them as long as I live”. Harry has been awarded the Legion d’Honneur and an MBE
in the New Years honours for his charitable work. 22,442 service personnel were
killed on D-Day and during the battle of Normandy but this one man worked hard
to ensure that they were not forgotten.
In February 1944, 8yr old
Tony Foulds was playing in the park when a B-17 Flying Fortress, Mi Amigo,
crashed and exploded in Endcliffe Park in Sheffield. Tony recalls how the
aircraft had circled the field possibly trying to find a safe place to land. At
one point the crew tried to wave the children out of the way, but the children
merely waved back not understanding the severity of the situation. In an
attempt to avoid the children, the pilot tried to land the other side of some
trees but crashed and all of the crew died in the crash.
In 1969 a permanent memorial
was set up in the park for the crew of the Mi Amigo and Tony immediately began
looking after the area, tidying around it and planting flowers. He continues to
do this even to this day, By chance, BBC breakfast presenter Dan Walker met
Tony whilst he was out walking his dog and was so touched by Tony’s story that
he shared it on Twitter. The post went viral and the presented headed up a
campaign to help Tony get the flypast he wanted to commemorate the 75th
anniversary.
One man spent his lifetime
ensuring that the sacrifice of the ten US servicemen was not forgotten. Another
man used his connections and media presence to head up the campaign. On 22nd
February 2019, Tony got his flypast and Endcliffe Park was filled with thousands
of people who came to pay tribute to the ten men.
Just before Christmas, Dan
Walker used his presenting role and Social Media presence to raise awareness again
– this time for a man named Terrence. Terrence
appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss the plight of many elderly people who
suffer from loneliness. Terrence himself had spent the last 20yrs alone on
Christmas day and made himself a sandwich as his Christmas dinner. He told the
presenter he didn’t even have a Christmas tree. Dan put out an appeal to help
get Terrence a tree. The response was phenomenal as he not only got a tree but
had Carol Singers come to his house and hundreds of people donated to AgeUK or
signed up to volunteer with them, Terrence himself volunteers with AgeUK and
from his experience ensures that he can help others but will also will never be
alone at Christmas again.
Of course, people may say
that someone in the media can achieve these things because of their position
but Dan used his position for good and encouraged others to do the same. He showed
how effective the power of one can be.
I am only one person, I do
not have the social media following of Dan Walker, I am not a celebrity but I can
still do something to help others and raise awareness. I can do something good
each day and although it may not be life changing, it can make a difference.
Harry Billinge at 94 proves that age doesn’t stop you from doing charity work.
Whether it is cleaning a memorial or volunteering and befriending an elderly person,
there is something all of us can do.
Have I done any good in the
world today, have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and
made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed
indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been
lighter today, because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary
been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was
I there?
(Will. L. Thompson)
Let’s start today.
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