On Monday, 12th October, 2015, the President of
Garstang Circle, Brother Tom Ibison and the Circle Membership Officer, Brother
John Cadden, attended the Blesma Home in Blackpool, (British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s
Association Home) and presented Brother
Bill Sharples, Garstang Circle, with a 70 year miniature medal to mark Brother
Bill’s 70 year membership of the Catenian Association, a medal only introduced
by the Catenian Association for the first time earlier this year for Brothers
achieving 70 years continuous membership and the medal had kindly been engraved
by a Circle Brother “70 years membership”
Brother Bill joined the Association on 27th
March, 1945, when he was enrolled into Preston 14 Circle where his father was a
member. Bill is currently the second longest serving member in the Catenian
Association. He, along with his late father, became members of Garstang Circle
on 29th April, 1965, when it was inaugurated. His father was the Circle’s first
President and Bill his Vice President, succeeding his father as President 12
months later.
The timing of Brother Bill’s presentation was very appropriate,
for only weeks earlier, he was the recipient of the Republic of France’s
highest military award, the Legion of Honour, established in 1802 by Napoleon
Bonaparte, and awarded recently to British Servicemen for their acknowledged
involvement in the liberation of France during the Second World War, when Bill
was a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery.
It was on 26th June, 1944, a date which will remain
in Bill’s memory for ever when his active service came to an end. Under enemy fire in Normandy, he was shot in his
legs and his right shoulder, the injuries to his right leg being so serious it
had to be amputated.
Brother Bill, who is now 91 years of age and a widower for
25 years, has been a resident at the Blesma Home in Blackpool since early 2014;
he is very contented and stoical despite a number of health problems. His
philosophy for life is “I never complain about the things I cannot do, I am
just grateful for the things I can do.”
Finally, a very moving paragraph in the letter from the
French Consul to Bill reads,” As we contemplate this Europe of peace, we must
never forget heroes like you, who came from Britain and the Commonwealth to
begin the liberation of Europe by liberating France. We owe our freedom and
security to your dedication, because you were ready to risk your life.”
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(Left to right)
Brother Tom Ibison, Bill in
the centre and Brother John Cadden on the right. Bill’s 70 year miniature is on
the left as you look at the picture and the Legion of Honour award with the red
ribbon is on its own above his military medals on the right
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