DGM HQ Waking c Rising
06.29
DGM HQ.
Waking c. 03.45. Rising at 04.30 with the sense of loss, knowing sleep would not return.
An early morning sitting, which is good, and with the Friday morning Group AAD, which is very good.
06.45 Uncle Bill is very much in the news…
BBCThe Independent The Daily MailThe MirrorThe Sun07.39 Many thanks for the many messages of condolence.
A grey day.
09.07 Bookkeeper Nicky is in.
The street I…
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09.56 An early call from BBC R2: would I speak to Jeremy Vine live, talking about Uncle Bill, at 13.30? How could I do otherwise?
10.23 Selecting some pix from the Uncle Bill archive and forwarding for R2’s Facebook page; and some links to Jeremy Vine’s producer….
2nd May 20121st Sept 20092nd Sept 20093rd Sept 2009Alfie Fripp Veteran of the Great Escape 1Alfie Fripp FacebookFripp & AssociatesFripp & Associates 2The Last of the 39ersVisiting Uncle Bill on Wednesday,
30th November 2011, Uncle told me of his recent visit to Zagan with Channel Four I…
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…, the site of Stalag Luft III. Uncle Bill’s presence on three days of filming was completely edited out of the tv show. Pooey pooey! The programme documented the excavations to discover the tunnel used in The Great Escape. The siting was accurately deduced by a local woman working in the museum. Uncle Bill was himself the first POW to step down and into the just-discovered entrance to the escape tunnel. Uncle showed me pictures of the moment, and it was moving. Some 66 years ago his pilot, Mike Casey, would have clambered in-and-along, escaped, been recaptured and shot on Hitler’s direct order.
And a first from Uncle Bill, who considers himself a sceptical, down-to-earth person, one not open to strange notions and obscure ideologies… As Uncle stepped into the entrance, he believed he heard voices from inside the tunnel, asking for it to be opened and for them to be given their freedom; freedom for the 76 souls continuing there.
I simply report Uncle’s comment.
The Sistery Person Patricia visited England in 2009 for us to interview Uncle, then 95, and record his history. On this Diary for September 1-3rd. 2009
1st September2nd September 3rd SeptemberPart is available on
YouTube and, in extended form, as a Patricia Fripp Production I…
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Uncle Bill recently attributed his longevity to the wartime diet, albeit of 600 calories a day: no fat, no salt.
Uncle was a Parcel Goon I…
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… responsible for the collection and distribution of Red Cross parcels. Some of these were secretly coded and contained items used in The Great Escape.
13.56 A difficult interview because I am grieving. Concerned at holding it together when talking of Uncle. The interview just done, with Uncle’s own recorded words on being shot down taken from YouTube. Which stole the show; and Heroes to play out, entirely appropriate.
The producer asked me to suggest appropriate music with me playing on it. I made two recommendations: Heroes (as a first choice) and Fade Away And Radiate (Parallel Lines by Blondie).
15.15 Back to the professional life, and music industry dissension.
Fart For Your Rights! I…
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15.56 Discussed with David: an improvement in DGM mail order services is underway.
16.12 In the post I…
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16.53 Car loaded.
17.25 Final business e-flurries, and words with David. Off to Bredonborough.
21.43 Bredonborough.
Travelling via Wilton, and so a visit to Mr. Romain at Romain’s Emporium Of Wonderfully Ageing Things I…
I told Mr. Romain of Uncle Bill’s flying-away, and he responded with a story of one of his brothers: captured at Dunkirk and spending five years as a POW, beginning with a long march from Dunkirk to Leningrad, and then back to Germany when Russia entered the war.
The Minx called along the way to see how I am feeling. Wonderful Little Wife!
Home. In the past three years I have lost a number of people that I felt for dearly. But, adopting Uncle Bill’s no complaining, only reporting - with the joy that life brings, loss accompanies that life leaving. In the larger picture, nothing of value is lost. No-one leaves: more like, in the next room; and sometimes we can call to each other.
