Yet again, Lofty has organised another fabulous day with the Vets, five in total, Jack Bruce, Johnnie Peters, Sonny Royan, Tom Reynolds and Bill Stubbings. As usual it was a full house, folks from all walks of life enjoying the tales of derring-do and tucking into bacon rolls and a huge table of cakes as made by the lovely Mrs Lofty. We were graced with superb weather and half way through the day we were entertained by an elderly but sprightly Jazz pianist which had everybody tapping there toes.The whole event was thoroughly enjoyed by all those that attended thanks to Loftys hard work and devotion to the cause. Cheers Lofty, your a gentleman
HI Dave, Yep sorry I missed it but you know how work is.... Looks like a nice time had by all Cheers Tom
Couldn't have put it better Dave. It was a great day and it was marvellous to see everyone having such a good time, especially the vets who seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Well done and thank you to Lofty, Barbara and everyone else for a lovely day ...........
Nice pics Dave, i heared Johnnie Peters will be in Oosterbeek saturday the 3rd of September, the day of the Airborne March. Not sure if he walks the 10 KM though...
Nice pics Dave, i heared Johnnie Peters will be in Oosterbeek saturday the 3rd of September, the day of the Airborne March. Not sure if he walks the 10 KM though... Im not sure about that ron, but I can say they were all in fine form on the day,Jack Bruce had me in stitches
Lofty far left, our host. In the red shirt Sir Nigel Rodley - a very interesting story as to why he is concerned in what happened at Arnhem. Someone else can fill in that information. Worth another thread all on its' own...over to you Lofty! (PS do a search on 'Essex University, Sir Nigel Rodley,' to see what he does for a job).Standing next to Nigel Rodley is Nigel Everett who co wrote and published this song: Remembrance - The Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band - YouTube http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv101/STANF09/P8140236A.jpg Nigel Rodley centre talking to Jack Bruce. Jack has already been to Normandy this year and is going to Arnhem. Not bad for a 92 year old. http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv101/STANF09/P8140231A.jpg
Im not sure about that ron, but I can say they were all in fine form on the day,Jack Bruce had me in stitches They sure look in good shape, i think Johnny is going to unveil a memorial or artwork on 3 September at Hartenstein, i am not sure what it exactly is. Ron
Hi all Professor Sir Nigel Simon Rodley KBE, LLB (Leeds), LLM (Columbia, NYU), PhD (Essex). Son of Cpl Hans Rosenfeld (served as John P Rodley) 21st Independent Company. Taken from 23 years of my k2 We had on board my minibus for the 60th commemorations at Arnhem 2004 a special passenger, due to an extraordinary coincidence, a garage receptionist friend of mine (the Scammell owner) in November 2003 had a car booked in and when the owner arrived with it, something was said about Arnhem, my father died in Arnhem he said, and left , a quick phone to me that lunch time with the name, we both knew the name but could not remember why, I will find out more when he collects the car tonight said my friend, he did, Rodley/ Cpl Hans Rosenfeld, That night I ploughed through my books and the CWGC, and learned a lot about Rodley. Christmas 2003 my wife bought me OMG Then and Now, flicking through it on Boxing Day I came across the famous picture taken by Mrs Kremer at 8 Stationweg, and there on the right of the picture Rodley, the caption indicating 3 soldiers in the picture would not survive the battle, one of whom was Rodley who died the following day. I believe this was the first publication to put names to that picture; I spoke to my friend at the garage, asking if he thought the son had seen this picture, he said he would ask him, he did , he had not, he said all he knew was his Father died in Arnhem when he was three, would you like to see it, yes I would please, arrangements were made for he and my friend to visit, I read to him the memories of Anns Kremer a ten year old in the cellar during the battle, who remembers his dad and showed him Louis Hagens book , Arnhem Lift, Louis Hagen is in the picture, behind the chap holding the visitors book they were all asked to sign by Mrs Kremer, I then offered him the book with the famous picture in, after studying it for a short while, he asked if we thought any of these chaps in the picture were still about who would remember his dad, I suggested Anns who we knew remembers his dad, would be the youngest and we would find her address if possible, within three days and with the help of a Dutch friend we supplied him with her address, a promise of a picture of his father’s temporary grave, the circumstances surrounding his father’s death, and a picture of his grave in Oosterbeek War Cemetery. Prior to receiving this I had found a video taken in 1998 of his father’s grave with my garage friend and myself talking about 2 different names on one headstone for the same soldier, unusual. I invited Sir Nigel Rodley the son to join us on our 60th commemoration trip which he did, although he had visited his father’s grave once many years before he had no idea soldiers like his father were held in such high esteem, or any knowledge of his father’s role in the battle, he knows now. On the Sunday We left the cemetery the next stop being the memorial to the 21st Independent Co, while my party were looking, I moved four houses down to no 8 Stationweg, went up the drive, looking to see where the famous picture was taken, can I help asked the lady of the house, after all I was in her garden, I explained about a famous picture being taken by Mrs Kremer during the battle, the picture comes with the house, it’s on the kitchen table now she said. I told her I had the son of the soldier on the right of the picture outside and could she show him where it was taken, she was humbled, and insisted we all came in,17 of us. Having been shown around we were all invited to see the cellar but it was getting too tiring for the veterans in my charge, we had to go. In 2007 Sir Nigel and his wife returned to Oosterbeek, to no 8, arrangements had been made, Anns Kremmer and her brother arrived with the visitor’s book that is shown in the picture, and they were able to read his father’s words. Fantastic. JOB DONE Sadly Anns brother has since passed away regards lofty, (apologies for copy and paste,) Cpl John Rodley extreme right, note "visitors book"held by Captain S.G. Cairns GPR, and behind him Sgt Louis Hagen GPR.
Hi all, have been given today a disc with last weeks pictures,although similar to those already on here, I think this one, of the five veterans, captured that little extra, they are from left to right, Sonny Royan, Johnnie Peters, Tom Renoylds, Jack Bruce, and Bill Stubbins. The other picture is my good friend Don Nevard,who provided us with some jazz piano, including a jazz version of a Vera Lynn classic. I would like to thank the veterans, Don, the forum members, and the assembled guests for making it a very enjoyable day, thank you. regards lofty
Hi all, have been given today a disc with last weeks pictures,although similar to those already on here, I think this one, of the five veterans, captured that little extra, they are from left to right, Sonny Royan, Johnnie Peters, Tom Renoylds, Jack Bruce, and Bill Stubbins. The other picture is my good friend Don Nevard,who provided us with some jazz piano, including a jazz version of a Vera Lynn classic. I would like to thank the veterans, Don, the forum members, and the assembled guests for making it a very enjoyable day, thank you. regards lofty Lovely Pictures Lofty. Don was indeed a superb addition to a wonderful day.
Ref post 10, this the house Lofty is referring to. (This image taken recently). There is also a film in the process of being made that I believe will feature several personal stories of soldiers and their family connections. Sir Nigel Rodleys story is to be included in this. In the picture Nigel Rodley stands 7th in from the left.
Nigel Rodley at the 2014 Oosterbeek cemetery commemorations with Lofty and the author of a recently published book showing then and now images of the Arnhem battle area.
