Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2016 | Page 36

Photo: Neil pictured aged 19 in Navy uniform
being bombed, seeing a man killed by shrapnel, and losing a total of 33
comrades. “I kept in touch with a lot of my shipmates after the war but now I’m
the only one left” he says.
Then there are the memories of taking the Oranaise back to France after the
war when it was decommissioned, and says the local people surged on board
and stripped it because they literally had nothing.
Though he doesn’t talk much about his wartime exploits these days, Neil
has proudly marched with other veterans every year until last year, in the local
Remembrance Sunday parade.
This year, at a Memorial dedication in Newport for the people who lost their
lives in a German bombing raid on the town, Neil had to use a wheelchair - but
he still sported his chest full of medals, with bowler hat and dark overcoat, for
the occasion.
Most of the time though, Neil is best known for his mischievous sense of
humour and sheer love of life.
With 10 children, 17 grandchildren and a huge wider family all around him, he
is never short of company, and is a sharp player of cards, chess and other board
games. In fact Sunday is ‘card night’ at his place, with various members of the
family turning up to play.
“If you don’t turn up, you’re out of the will!” jokes son Paul.

Early days
Life didn’t start out that easily for Neil, after he lost his mother when he was only
five, and had to be brought up by his grandmother and uncle. He was sent to
Hollingworth College, a private school in London, where his mischievous ways
often got him into hot water. In fact when he was threatened with being expelled,
he told his grandmother that was okay as it would save her the school fees!
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