A WAR hero said he felt deeply honoured to be presented with The Press’s Community Pride Person Of The Year trophy.
Ted Griffiths, 91, was unable to attend last Thursday’s ceremony at York Racecourse due to ill health and his award was collected by Bob Burrows, from the Royal British Legion, on his behalf.
But yesterday evening Mr Griffiths was finally able to enjoy his hugely deserved moment in the limelight when a presentation party visited him at his Heworth home.
Neil Barnes, from the event’s main sponsor, Benenden Healthcare Society, presented Mr Griffiths with his trophy, watched by The Press’s deputy editor, Francine Clee, the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Sue Galloway, and Mr Burrows, who nominated Mr Griffiths for the accolade.
Mr Griffiths said: “It is a great honour and a complete surprise. Back in 1942 I lost a very dear friend in the Second World War.
“We both went up in a mortar bomb in North Africa. I thought it was me that had gone, but it was him.
“He was married with a little baby he had never seen and I was upset because I was a single man and I thought, why wasn’t it me?
“I made a promise then that should I survive I would do all I could to help those unfortunate women who had lost their husbands.”
Since serving as an artilleryman in the Second World War Mr Griffiths, who is president of the York branch of the Royal British Legion, has never failed to make York proud.
Mr Griffiths has led the city’s Remembrance Day parade for the past six decades and has helped raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
He has also spent the past 20 years organising York’s annual Festival of Remembrance.
Ms Clee said: “Mr Griffiths really stood out among the nominees in this category.
“He really is a remarkable man and it was high time that his outstanding work for the Royal British Legion in York was acknowledged.”
Mr Barnes said: “The work that he does is a huge inspiration to young people like myself. We have a lot to live up to and it was a great pleasure to present Mr Griffiths with this award.”
It is the seventh year The Press and City of York Council has staged this celebration of York’s unsung heroes.
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