[ocean]

What a guy!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/d-d...me-3655255

Quote:

An 89-year-old D-Day veteran reported missing from a nursing home had run away to France to join the 70th anniversary commemoration of the Normandy landings.

Bernard Jordan, who hid his war medals as he went 'AWOL', has contacted the home and said his friends are going to make sure he gets back safely when the events end.

Former Royal Navy man Bernard had been reportedly stopped from travelling to France by staff at The Pines nursing home in Hove, Sussex. He left at around 10.30am on Thursday.

Officers were called at 7.15pm by staff at a nursing home in Hove, who said an 89-year-old who lived there had gone out at 10.30am and had not been seen since.

Bernard, mayor of Hove in 1995-6, had gone out wearing a grey mack and a jacket underneath with his war medals on, police said.

Officers began searching the area, including checking hospitals in case something had happened to him, and spoke to bus and taxi companies, but none of them knew where he was.

The nursing home received a phone call from a younger veteran from Brighton at 10.30pm who said he had met the pensioner on a coach on the way to France and that they were safe and well in a hotel in Ouistreham.

In a statement, Sussex Police added: "We have spoken to the veteran who called the home today and are satisfied that the pensioner is fine and that his friends are going to ensure he gets back to Hove safely over the next couple of days after the D-Day celebrations finish.

"Once the pensioner is home we will go and have a chat with him to check he is ok."

Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp, Police Commander for the City of Brighton & Hove, tweeted: "Love this: 89yr old veteran reported missing by care home who said he can't go to Normandy for 70th remembrance. We've found him there!"

In a statement, Peter Curtis, chief executive of Gracewell Healthcare, which runs The Pines, said: "Gracewell Healthcare can confirm that The Pines care home resident Bernard Jordan attended the D-Day commemorations in Normandy today.

"Mr Jordan has full capacity, which means that he can come and go from the home as he pleases, which he does on most days. At no stage was he banned from going to the commemorations.

"In fact, staff at the home tried to get Mr Jordan on to an accredited tour with the Royal British Legion but, due to the last-minute nature of the request, this was not possible.

"Mr Jordan was reported missing to the police yesterday evening as a matter of caution because he did not return form his normal trip to town and when he left had not told us he was still intent on trying to get to Normandy.

"At Gracewell Healthcare are in awe of the part Mr Jordan played in the D-Day invasion 70 years ago."

The Gracewell Healthcare blog says Mr Jordan has lived in Hove his "whole life" and has been a resident at The Pines since January, adding: "He served in the Second World War in the Royal Navy and upon returning married his sweetheart, Irene.

"Bernard looks back on his career modestly and believed he was very fortunate to serve his community."

Mr Jordan told the blog: "I was able to take my chance, serve the people of my town and do a job I loved. I am very proud of what I was able to do.

"For anyone who is interested in becoming mayor, you must be prepared to work hard."

The highlight of his working life was meeting Margaret Thatcher, according to the blog post.

He said: "It was definitely one of my favourite memories. She was an amazingly strong lady. When she visited Brighton I got the chance to meet her and it was a very proud moment for me."

The blog reports that Mr Jordan was presented with a special award in 1999 for his dedication as a local councillor for 34 years.

He still has a keen interest in politics and also loves supporting his favourite football team, Brighton and Hove Albion, the blog post said.