He suffered a fractured wrist and cuts to the head which required stitching - expertly done at Settle surgery by Dr Clare Littlejohn before he was taken to Airedale Hospital. Settle's remoteness means that its GP surgery acts as quite a casualty clearing station. Poor Ted was unable to fulfil a lifetime ambition to ride on the S&C.
Northern, on hearing of this had no hesitation in offering Ted a free trip on the line when he was fit enough to do so.
Today was the day and Ted got the VIP treatment - free tickets for himself and his carer-for-the-day / son-in-law Peter Booth and as much tea or coffeee as they could drink from the refreshment trolley. I accompanied them for part of their journey to point out the sights Ted missed when he fell.
Here, after a treat of a lifetime are, from the left, Ted, Pat, Peter and his wife, Ted's daughter Julia. Peter incidentally was a professional cricketer - a pace bowler for Leicestershire and England in his time and later a teacher.
click to enlarge
Ted MBE used to be chairman of the Magistrates bench in Mansfield. He well remembers the Miners Strike times in Nottinghamshire. I was in charge of the West Yorkshire contingent of police at Mansfield colliery when Ted was sitting into the small hours dealing with cases. Small world.
Altogether a joyful day. Well done Ted, well done Northern and the Dev Co's trolley staff.
Ted Higham is one of those people it is a privilege to know.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Do please leave comments. If nothing else it shows that there is somebody out there.