United in courage, the last Dambuster and little girl who fights a daily battle to walk
Awards for RAF aces and Ella, 11, who raises cash for other sick children
THEY were born in two different centuries but their courage spans the ages, the brave little girl and the last surviving Dambuster.
Generations apart, 11-year-old Ella Chadwick and Squadron Leader George “Johnny” Johnson, 96, are cut from the same cloth.
Johnny is the last of 617 Squadron, those heroes who 75 years ago bombed Hitler’s dams in an audacious attack on German power.
Ella faces her own daily battles. She was born with congenital nephrotic syndrome, a rare kidney disease.
She has spent her young life undergoing dialysis, 40 operations and two transplants – one kidney from her dad, Martin, and one from her gran.
Johnny was one of the 133 aircrew who in 1943 left on board Lancaster bombers for German skies – a mission during which dozens of men were killed and three captured.
“Nineteen aircraft took off that day,” he told the audience. “Eight aircraft were lost, 53 killed in action – a tremendous loss.”
The destroyed dams looked like “an inland sea”, he said, but Sir Barnes Wallis, who invented the bouncing bomb, “lived with the loss of life for the rest of his life”.
Decades later, Ella’s bravery has seen her raise thousands of pounds for charity by racing miles. In one race, just months after taking her first steps, she even abandoned her wheelchair and walker to struggle across the finishing line, wearing a green tutu and fluffy green ears.
Despite having suffered several strokes and diabetes, her mum says she is always most distressed by seeing other poorly children upset.
Ella once made 250 sparkly get-well-soon cards for children on her ward, with a note saying: “Hope I made you smile.”
Next Tuesday, when the awards are screened on ITV, Ella’s gorgeous smile will make millions of others smile as she is honoured not for being disabled, but for being an extraordinary human being, with the Child of Courage award. Like Johnny Johnson, she stands for hope.
For Johnny, of course, the phrase has an extra special meaning.
The Bristol veteran collected the Special Recognition award for the RAF from actor and campaigner Michael Sheen, on behalf of all of the men and women of the force in its 100th birthday year.
Founded on April 1, 1918, when The Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service merged, the RAF’s women and men have defended
Nineteen aircraft took off that day, eight
were lost, 53 killed DAMBUSTER “JOHNNY” JOHNSON, 96, LAST NIGHT
Britain from the skies for a century.
Last night the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB, gave us all a final opportunity to salute those RAF heroes who took on the Nazis in the Second World War.
And also to pay tribute to 37,000 men and women on the front line today, represented by Flight Lieutenant Kerry Bennett, Wing Commander Manjeet Ghataora and Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier.
“Everyone in this room wants to thank you all,” Michael told them all. “You truly are the Pride of Britain.”
For Ella and mum Karen, it was a chance to pay tribute to their own heroes – the doctors and nurses at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. To celebrate her 10th birthday, and a decade of being a patient there, Ella challenged herself to run 10km of races in a year.
She completed her goal this summer, crossing the finishing line at the Mini Great Manchester Run with five friends, raising thousands.
A Manchester United fan and talented singer, she was delighted to receive her invitation to the awards from David Beckham.
X Factor host Dermot O’Leary and judges Louis Tomlinson, Robbie Williams, Ayda Field and Simon Cowell presented her award.
Louis gave her a hug and being Pride of Britain, there was of course an extra twist. Dermot said: “Well, Ella, we know you love singing and you’ve got the X Factor judges right here in front of you.
“And I’ve got this lovely glittery microphone for you.” Ella could not resist a burst of Let It Go from Frozen and won four “yeses”, as Johnny looked on from the wings.
On the 100th anniversary of the RAF and the 75th of the Dambusters raid, the RAF motto has rarely felt more apt. Per ardua ad astra – through adversity to the stars.
The Few usually stands for those who saved the nation in the Battle of Britain. But last night, on the 20th anniversary of the Pride of Britain Awards, it could have stood for every winner in the room.