Allow
me to step aside from the main text in this biography for a moment. I
want to introduce you to a sad, pathetic coward. ME !
Before
then let me introduce you to Thomas Ashford, Fusilier
Thomas Ashford VC.
Serving
during the Second Afghan Campaign Thomas raced out under enemy fire
without thought for his own safety to rescue a wounded friend. He was
awarded The Victoria Cross for Bravery. The citation reads: For
conspicuous gallantry on the occasion of the sortie from Kandahar, on
the 16th August, 1880, against the village of Deh Khoja, in having
rescued and carried for a distance of over 200 yards, under the fire
of the enemy, a wounded soldier, Private Massey, of the Royal
Fusiliers, who had taken shelter in a blockhouse. Several times they
were compelled to rest, but they persevered in bringing him to a
place of safety.
His
medal is part of a Victoria Cross display in The Tower of London. I
took my grandson, Adam, to London to see Thomas's medal. He was very
proud of his ancestor's bravery.
Adam
would not be so proud of his grandfather's cowardice ! He would not
be proud of his sad, pathetic coward of a grandfather. ME !
I
am a blood donor. As I type up these words I am approaching my 27th
donation. When I made my 25th
donation the donor service made a lot of fuss and congratulated me.
Here's
another picture. This is of me.
I
don't look like that any more but today I am a lot older and not now
a coward. However, Thomas Ashford's bravery and Victoria Cross were
part of his life - all of his life. My cowardice from younger days is
part of my life and can never leave me.
As
a young man at Teacher Training College the matron, Mrs Meek,
received an award for donating fifty pints of blood. She invited we
students to become blood donors.
NO
WAY ! No was was I having somebody stick a needle in me and
take out one eighth of my blood. Needle ! It
terrified me. I didn't care if it did save lives nobody was going to
stick a needle in me !
As
I am explaining in this biography my darling daughter Rebekah was
born with renal failure, she spent most of her childhood in and out
of hospital. She received so many operations, every operation
receiving a blood transfusion. Did her father
become a blood donor ? Did I heck ! I was far too much of a coward,
nobody was going to stick a needle in me !
Would
I have rushed out under enemy fire to save a friend as had Thomas
Ashford ? I would like to think I would. Then why did I not
have the courage to donate blood ?
Donating
blood saves lives. You do not get awarded The Victoria Cross for
donating blood but thank goodness there were those who donated blood
for my daughter to receive transfusions.
So
finally after many years I found the courage to donate my first pint
of blood. I was so scared as I waited for my turn, scared about
the needle going into my arm.
Friday
20th September 2019 I received my award for donating 25 pints of
blood. I am pleased I have donated 25 pints but not proud of
winning the award. Had I been brave enough when Matron Meek suggested
in April 1973 Friday 20th September 2019 would be my 139th pint.
I
am determined to live long enough to match Matron Meek and achieve 50
pints donation, as I write I am approaching my 27th
donation. December 2027 I will have donated 50 pints I will not long
have celebrated my 77th birthday by then.
How
old would I have to be in order to reach 100 pints donation ? You
can donate three time a year so I need to live another 25 years. That
would make me 94 years of age.
Can
I do that ? You know I am going to give it my best shot.
If I can live long enough to donate 100 pints of blood I could die no
longer a coward.
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