Page 24 • The HERALD • 24th August 2023 v INDEPENDENT, LOCAL AND PROUD v • Re-Skimming • Rendering • Coving • Dry Lining • Tacking • Artex Covered • Floor Screeding www.tbrownplastering.co.uk Call: 07919 183989 Friendly • Reliable • Professional • Free Estimates FLAT ROOFING SPECIALISTS All Roof Repairs Tel: 023 8184 5632 Mobile: 07880 508415 Email: steve@braithwaiteroo ng.co.uk THE FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST SOLENT SKIP HIRE LTD FOR ALL YOUR COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC WASTE MINI ~ MIDI ~ MAXI SKIPS ALSO CUBIC YARD BAGS OWN BAG COLLECTION AVAILABLE 023 8066 0123 01590 619700 • 01962 588288 Email: office@solentskiphire.co.uk The Day My Dad Came Back to Life by Robin Somes, Fawley and Blackfield Memories My father, Joe Spedding, was many things, a highlyskilled boatman among them. However, even the most seasoned mariner has the occasional bad day, and one day, he ran right out of luck. Late a ernoon on 30th August 1952, he was shing - as was o en the case - in a small boat o the mouth of the Beaulieu River at Lepe, with a couple of companions. Making to pack up and go home, one of them started the outboard motor – but with the throttle wide open and the tiller hard over; the little dinghy span round and overturned, throwing all three into the water. e two friends were unharmed, and managed to cling on to the dinghy, not responding to the resuscitation and showing signs of life, but still unconscious and breathing only tfully. e Doctor took charge, and accompanied Joe in the ambulance to Lymington Hospital, where eventually he regained consciousness the following day, with no memory of the event. Shortly a erwards, Joe’s wife, Peggy, sent a letter expressing her gratitude to Mr Johnstone and his family, for their part in saving his life. Later that year, Hampshire Constabulary submitted a report to the Royal Humane Society – which grants awards for acts of bravery in the saving of human life – describing the rescue in detail. My father’s own account was shorter, and not particularly attering about the man who caused the dinghy to overturn, but both accounts are a reminder of a momentous day – if things had gone di erently, I wouldn’t be here. Joe Spedding in 1957 noticing that Joe had been knocked unconscious, and was dri ing away with the fast-running tide. A motor yacht, “Caramel”, was just entering the river a half-mile away, and its owner, Wing Commander Geo rey Briggs, set o in a dinghy to assist. When he got to the scene, Joe had been under water around 10 minutes, and by the time Briggs had managed, singlehanded, to pull him into his dinghy, he appeared to be drowned; his face and legs were blue-black, and he had no pulse. Another yacht, “Crest of Arun”, appeared at the scene, and the crew got all three men aboard. Here, Joe’s luck nally took a better turn; Alice Johnstone, the daughter of Crest of Arun’s owner H. Talbot Johnstone, was a quali ed life-saver, and immediately started resuscitation. Two of Caramel’s passengers, Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald, also had experience of life-saving, and came aboard to help, and both yachts quickly set o upriver towards Bucklers Hard. On reaching the village, by about 6.45, they fortunately picked up a Doctor Ru ellSmith from another yacht sailing past, and called out for the harbourmaster to fetch an ambulance. Joe, by this time, was The Romsey Show Broadlands Park will once again play host to e Romsey Show on Saturday 9th September, 8am to 6pm. Children under 11 are free, dogs are welcome but must be kept on leads and are not allowed in the livestock area. Organised by e Romsey Agricultural & Horse Show Society, e Romsey Show has something for all the family with entertainment for all ages and interests, with displays including livestock and heavy horse parades, motorbike and BMX display teams, classic car and machinery parades, cookery demonstrations, live music from Beggars Fair acts, a fairground, Family Dog Show and more! Plus shopping and cra tents as well as the food zone area with stands selling a mixture of local and international produce to keep you sustained throughout the day. For more information and ticket please visit: romseyshow.co.uk
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