A proud day for the city ...

Joseph Hodgson had to sell his medals to eke out a miserable existence in London slums before he died in poverty.

That could very well have been the sad end to a remarkable story.

Thankfully, the legend of this man, better known by his memorable nickname of Stormy Petrel, lives on today.

And it serves as a reminder that persistence pays off.

Just as Stormy refused to give in to the elements to ensure life goes on, so his great great granddaughters Christine Sexton and Debbie Scott refused to give up.

There’s clearly something in the genes!

Thanks to the efforts of his descendants, a blue plaque to the man who saved dozens of people from drowning in the North Sea has been unveiled in his home city.

The blue plaque has been unveiled at the Boar’s head Bistro in High Street, and it was touching to see so many of his family in attendance.

As we reveal today, his great-great-grandchildren Deb Scott, Christine Sexton, Nick Scott and Charles Somerset were beaming with pride as the Mayor of Sunderland, Coun Lynda Scanlan, unveiled the memorial.

And it seemed as if the story had come full circle, as revealed by Deb.

She said: “It’s fantastic that there will be a permanent reminder to Stormy here in Sunderland.

“He was a forgotten hero but is now being remembered again.

“He saved lives and said the most valued medal he ever received was from the Mayor of Sunderland, so it is fitting that the current Mayor of Sunderland unveiled the plaque. It makes us really, really proud.”

It does the same for the people of Sunderland too.