From Russia with thanks to a hero

For 15 years I’ve been a welfare officer for Southend’s royal Naval Association. My job is to visit the poorly, taking goodwill cards and presents from members such as flowers, chocolates and rum, and to sort out any problems. I’ve helped families when a member ‘crosses the bar’, by organising wakes and everything else. Four years ago, one of the gentlemen by the name of Alf informed me that he was seriously ill with only a short time to live. I paid him a visit to see how he was getting along. he was very ill and getting weaker by the day. he told me he had served on the russian convoys during World War II. Vladimir Putin had begun issuing the ushakov, a special medal awarded for bravery and courage at sea. When I mentioned that I had an invitation to collect the ushakov medal for my late father, Alf’s eyes lit up and he said: ‘terry, do you reckon you could collect mine for me? I’d love to have it before I die.’ So it was agreed that he’d give me a typed letter of permission to collect the medal. two days later, I travelled to the russian embassy in London with my wife. It was with pride that I accepted the ushakov for my dear father. the ambassador was a real gentleman and we had a good chat. I showed him Alf’s letter, but a frown came over his face and he said: ‘I am very sorry, but that cannot be done as we have to have his signature, and you cannot sign for it.’ I told the ambassador that Alf had only days to live and that it would break my heart to have to tell him that I had not got the medal. With that, the ambassador said: ‘Leave it with me, I will see what I can do.’ on arriving home, I phoned Alf to tell him the bad news. ‘Don’t worry,’ Alf said. ‘It’s going to be all right.’ It turned out the ambassador was travelling to Alf’s home in hadleigh, essex, to present the medal in person. Sadly, Alf passed away a few days later, but his story will stay with me all my life.

Terry Christmas, Southend-on-Sea, Essex.