UK's oldest WW2 veteran awarded Freedom of Erewash
"I want to say thank you very much for coming to see me," he said."I didn't do anything that anybody else wouldn't have done."
His son, David Rose, said he was proud of his dad, adding: "Bearing in mind what he's been through, it's quite something, and he's still here to tell the tale."You start telling [his] story and you get a lump in your throat. All I can say is I'm extremely proud of the man."Thank you to the council, greatly appreciated, and he deserves it.He also praised the work of the British Legion for supporting veterans like his father. Paul Scott, John Sewell and Paul Jarvis from the Ilkeston and Long Eaton branches of the Legion attended the ceremony.Harry Atkinson said veterans like Donald "need recognising". "We've had a generation of people that served in WW2," he said. "Some gave the ultimate sacrifice. "This is in recognition of not just Donald but to them as well. They allowed us the freedoms that we have today."If anything, it's a shame that it's taken us this long. 110 is a bit too long I think!"
The leader of the council James Dawson said it was a unanimous decision of the authority to award Donald the freedom of the borough."It's the highest honour that any local authority can bestow," he said."It is in recognition of Donald and his service, but also [a] special things in this 80th year of VE day and VJ day."People who took part, people like Donald, we have to treasure the time we have with them."Mr Rose was born in Westcott in Surrey on 24 December 1914.He joined the Queen's Royal Regiment at the age of 25 and went on to train as a sniper.He served in North Africa and Europe and puts his longevity down to salty water he had to drink during his time as a Desert Rat.Mr Rose, who turned 110 last December, enjoyed a wartime-themed party at the care home where he lives in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, for VE day anniversary celebrations earlier this month.
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Sky News
2 hours ago
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Police warn of mass arrests if Palestine Action protest goes ahead
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Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
'Government needs to get a grip': Southport residents say they STILL fear anti-migrant riots one year on from violence... and they aren't alone
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'A year on and nothing has changed under Labour, people are still massively concerned which is why Reform won every seat at the recent elections. 'The only change at the hotel seems to be permanent security guards on reception which shows there is still a high level of threat and concern.' Claire Mitchell, 51, a Tamworth local and a regular gym-goer, said: 'What happened a year ago was horrific to see. I was ashamed and surprised. I did not think Tamworth was that sort of place. 'I don't believe everything I read on social media. There are people with agendas seeking to sew division. 'I have seen people from the hotel sitting around the lake and passing the time of day like anyone else might. It is not something I get concerned about. 'Fake news is a terrible thing and the riots we saw last year were prompted by that. 'Tamworth is a great place. I was brought up here and it has so much more to offer than the terrible behaviour of a minority. 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Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Britain's most selfish street: Families left with fly-infested rubbish and overflowing bins due to neighbours from hell's parking
Householders are fuming after being left with fly-infested rubbish and overflowing bins due to parking chaos caused by residents from neighbouring streets. Some bins in one road in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, have not been emptied since May. Irate residents say the bin wagon can make it to the edge of the cul-de-sac. But the jobsworth driver refuses to turn into the road, saying they cannot get past vehicles parked on the corner. The bin crews not only refuse to walk down into the cul-de-sac to collect the bins but have also told residents not to wheel them to the wagon on health and safety grounds. Fearing a rat invasion, residents are taking bags of rubbish to the homes of friends and relatives so they can dispose of them in their bins. They are having to wash their plastic bottles before putting them out so they do not smell, and regularly douse their bins in fly spray. But the contents are being infested with insects and the rubbish is also attracting foxes and even badgers. Residents say parking chaos is being made worse by properties being converted into houses with multiple tenants. Residents say parking chaos is being made worse by properties being converted into houses with multiple tenants Steve Silkstone, 67, a retired miner, who has owned his house for eight years, has complained to local MPs about nearby properties being converted into HMOs. He organised a petition against the house next door being converted into bed sits which was signed by 260 people. Gesturing at his overflowing bin, he said: 'This one has been not been emptied for 12 weeks. It has not been emptied three times in a row now. 'All we can do is take the rubbish away in cars because if we leave it is going to attract vermin. 'It smells in the hot weather and there are flies in the plastic and bottles bin even though I have cleaned all the bottles out and keep spraying it with fly spray. 'I am putting my bottle and plastic into general waste because I have no more room. I have offered to wheel the bins out the road. 'But I was told we cannot do it because of health and safety. We need a residents parking scheme.' The two bedroom family house next door, which failed to sell for more than a year, has been snapped up by an absentee landlord and converted into a three double rooms upstairs and a single bedroom downstairs. He said: 'If there is just four of five tenants and they each have a car each it causes parking chaos. I am absolutely fed up with it all. 'I am dreading anyone moving into the HMO next door to me. They are going to need more bins too and where are they going to put them? 'Parking is already bad. There is a van that regularly parks in the street. The owner has got six other cars and does not even live around here.' Neighbour Leanne Cowie, 36, said: 'My bin for plastics has not been emptied since the first week in June. There are flies and rubbish everywhere. 'The foxes come in and shred it all over the street. It is disguising, especially when you pay your council tax. 'We have offered to take our bins onto the main road so they can be emptied but were told we cannot due to health and safety. 'The council have sent us all letters warning us about the parking but half the people parking here do not live around here so they did not get the letters. 'I have been having to take my recycling to my mum's house. It is ridiculous. I had to take two bags to her the other day. I am lucky she just lives across the road.' Robert Brown 74, was also concerned about houses on the street being converted into HMOs. 'Another house is being cleaned out. We are lucky with our bins because our front door faces onto a different street.' Jane Board, 70, said: 'My bin has not been emptied since May. It is a pain. They live around the corner and just dump their cars on the corner. 'It makes it impossible for the bin wagons to get around them. They want us to recycle. But a lot of the recyclables are going in general waste because I now have three months worth of recyclable waste. 'All the bin men have to do is get off their arses and walk around the corner so it can be done.' Susan Smith, 78, said: 'I sent a photo of all the parking congestion to the council ten years ago. Every time we go out we are lucky if we can get parked again. 'I have to put all my recycling in a box every three weeks and take it to my brother in law so he can put it in his bin because they not collected it.' Hayley Roberts, 52, said: 'My bin has not been emptied for weeks and I cannot recycle any more. I have lived here since 2000 and it has got worse and worse. 'There are so many more cars now than when I moved it. The council do have a smaller bin wagon. 'But they would rather just not empty our bins and send us letters about parking which are a waste of paper. It is annoying when you are paying full council tax. 'I am paying all this money to get my bins emptied and not even getting my bins emptied. The council just want to get their money and not do much for it. 'It is just worse now due to the parking because there are a lot more people renting.' Jane Revell, 53, said: 'They came on Friday or Saturday for one of my bins which was a shock because it had been waiting there for four weeks. 'I am lucky there is only two of us, It is a different story for a family of four. 'It is frustrating because sometimes the van comes almost up to the street and he does not see it as his job to wheel the rubbish out of the cul-de-sac to the wagon. 'We have offered to wheel the bins ourselves because it is not like it is a great distance but have been told "no".' Adrian White, 72, said: 'The problem is they cannot get around the corner because of the parking. It is mind boggling. 'Some of them just leave their cars in the middle of the road so the wagon cannot get down. I have to take a lot of my waste to my brother for him to put in his recycling bin. 'We have seen badgers and foxes and all sorts down here after the rubbish. Once you have badgers on your land you cannot get rid of them. They eat everything.' North East Lincolnshire Council said it had written to residents in December and would be writing to them again regarding the problem of parked vehicles on the corner of Douglas Road and Laurier Street. The council added: 'We are currently considering installation of enforceable parking restrictions on this corner to assist, but this will need to go through the legal process in the coming months. 'In the meantime, we request that residents do not park on the corner of the street on collection days so that we can access the street and collect their waste and recycling.'
