Minor Hero
Remembering years ago
When all was taut and smiling.
Sepia photographs from India,
Smartly uniformed,
Brilliantined for posterity,
Mentioned in Despatches
Lifetimes ago.
He's fighting now the old enemy
Who comes for everyman.
Old age and uncertainty
Combined to bring him down,
Fetching him up
In this quiet world
Where heroes are made
Every day.
Silent struggles
Against the awkwardness
And unalleviated pain.
So now that smart airman
Has crashed
in the desert of the wards
His rescuers unaware
Of the minor hero in their midst
Survivor from the heat of India,
Immobilised by ill-fortune
In this artificial womb,
Amidst the detritus
of smaller wars
Whose end is conjecture,
Veiled and secret.
By Richard Maslen.
In Memoriam John Samuel Holden
1939 - 1945. died 20.1.1996
Some Favourite Websites For June 2026:
North Manor Farmhouse – Ensuite B&B accommodation in beamed Suffolk farmhouse close to the Suffolk coast and Southwold
Two B&B rooms, both with en-suite. Guest lounge with open fire. Discount for stay exceeding three nights. Sorry, dogs not accepted.
Campsites.co.uk – A host of campsites on offer around Southwold and the Coast
Campsites.co.uk list a wide variety of camping and glamping sites throughout East Suffolk, for perfectly peaceful holidays.
Kate Mawdsley Printmaker – Buy unique and varied Lino Cut and Etching prints of the Blyth Valley countryside
It’s a wonderfully refreshing change to produce individual hand printed images. Each one is unique with its subtle variations in colour and texture. Kate only produces a very limited number of each print and particularly enjoys creating prints of the local Suffolk countryside.
The Southwold Railway Trust Shop – For all sorts of quirky souvenirs of the Southwold Railway
The Southwold Railway shop fully supports the Southwold Railway, it's Trust and the Steamworks attraction in Southwold. The Southwold Railway was a 3ft gauge line running 9 miles between Halesworth and Southwold. The Trust was formed in 1994
Wissett Village Hall – A well furnished and practical Village Hall for use for events up to 70 standing or 50 seated
Wissett Village Hall prides itself on high quality affordability and is used regularly for a wide variety of events, including but not limited to carpet bowls, yoga, meetings, dinners and parties, jumbles sales, quizzes, horticultural events and art classes.