November 11, 2008

One of my maternal grandmother's closest friends passed away last night, just before midnight, aged 98.

She'd spent many of those past years in homes of various sorts, and it's fair to say that during the last few of them, her mind wasn't at its best.

Nonetheless, Phyl had been a jolly old bird throughout her life, and a sporting one, too: Each year, Wimbledon on the telly had been her almost Royal treat and when her eyes started to go, that was the thing she missed most.

Shame.

I mention this I suppose because it's Armistice Day today, and Phyl had lived through quite a bit of those times, and because I read a fascinating interview at the weekend with the oldest British survivor of the Great War, Henry Allingham.

I'd say Henry knows one or two things about life, loyalty, and respect. After all, he's 112.

Read it here.