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The last survivor's first trip to Blackpool
HE is a great great great great grandfather. He has seen 21 prime ministers, six monarchs and 112 birthdays, the last just two weeks ago.
Today Henry Allingham, the last First World War RAF veteran, will lead ex-servicemen and women from around the country in the Veterans' Day parade through the resort.
It will be a moment he will savour with pride, but one he will always insist he does not deserve.
For after all these years, Europe's oldest man still has one simple mission, to make sure we never forget.
And in remembering, we honour those who are not there to march alongside him.
"I come here because I am one of the last veterans of the First World War. I'm lucky I can be here because so many of them are not here, so I come on their behalf.
"I want to remind people how much they have to thank the men who gave everything they had in order that I might be here enjoying life.
"If it wasn't for these men, we wouldn't be here, and I say that for both the wars.
"We must remember we have got good men to thank for the fact we are enjoying life .
"It is important that we tell our children all about the wars. They know the world is as good as it is today, it is a wonderful world, because of what they did for us."
Henry is a remarkable man to meet in person, although he would argue he's nothing special.
He lived on his own in Eastbourne until 110, having lost his beloved wife Dorothy in 1970 after 51 years together, and he is still bright as a button.
But he has never been to Blackpool, until now.
He refused to go into care, but relented, on a temporary basis, to stay with other veterans at the St Dunstan's ex-service home.
Friends Brenda and Dennis Goodwin ferry him to his constant stream of engagements, Dennis being a Burma veteran himself and founder of the First World War Veterans' Association.
All around the hotel where the trio are staying, there is a buzz.
Veterans of the Second World War, old men themselves but a good 30 years younger than Henry, hope to catch a few minutes with the great man of the Great War.
His 112-year life has seen some of the world's most influential historical events.
But despite his unique ability to provide a living history lesson wherever he goes, Henry is first and foremost a very funny and kind family man.
His laugh is rather infectious, his stories entertaining and his tone often jovial.
He outlived both his daughters, Jean and Betty, but stays in touch with his vast family of five grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, 14 great great grandchildren and two great great great grandchildren, most of whom are in America.
He has many interests outside talking about the war, but no one ever asks him about them, much to his amusement.
Henry is used to discussing war, but it makes him sad to think about the friends long gone.
And although organisers of the Veterans Week events have insisted its aim is to honour and celebrate what members of the armed forces have done for their country, during service and after, thoughts will inevitably turn to reflection.
"I always have mixed feelings really. I do it for those that don’t have the opportunity to do it. They deserve the praise much more than me.”
But he is a hero, of that there is no doubt.
A trained mechanic, he went into the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) at 19 and was posted to Great Yarmouth where he joined HMT Kingfisher.
It was with this ship he saw action in the greatest naval battle of the First World War, the Battle of Jutland in 1915.
From there he was sent to France to support the Royal Flying Corps, rescuing aircraft downed behind enemy lines.
When the Royal Flying Corps merged with the RNAS in 1918, Henry became one of the founder members of the RAF and celebrated its 90th anniversary earlier this year.
During the Second World War, thousands of RAF recruits came through Blackpool, training on the beach and in the Winter Gardens, billeted in the hotels and guest houses.
Warton and Weeton housed airstrips while Squires Gate saw the construction of the great Lancaster bombers.
The Pleasure Beach even had some of its signs in Polish because of the number of airmen stationed in the resort.
Nevertheless 2008 marks Henry’s first proper visit to the Fylde.
“I am very pleased to be in Blackpool. I have never been here before, well I once drove through on the way to Morecambe, but we didn’t stop.
“I always meant to come to Blackpool but we’d always go to the Lakes. I’ve made it at last and I’ll have to make sure to take some rock home with me.”
Henry wants to make sure we never forget and today Blackpool will make sure that Henry, and the thousands of veterans of all conflicts, always remember the party that was Veterans Day 2008.
heather.butler@blackpoolgazette.co.uk
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Weather for Blackpool
Monday 13 February 2012
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Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
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