He’s an honest guy, no reason to doubt its truth.
Chris Harrison
On Saturday in the Brewery Shop an old gent walked in and asked if we were still doing the half price beer sale from a few months ago. As I explained the offer was only a short term thing and had now finished he held my gaze and listened intently then thanked me. He pulled an old purse from his pocket and carefully counted the money inside, closing up the purse he looked back at us and said ‘I’m sorry to say I can’t afford to buy the beer now – but thank you nonetheless’ he turned and left the brewery. We stopped him in the car park and gave him the case of beer he wanted.No man should be without beer.
I thought no more of it apart from the warmth of knowing we had done a nice thing for an old guy.
Today we received a lovely Christmas card and a handwritten letter from the old boy thanking us and I quote ‘at 90 years old you don’t expect kindness like that’.It made us all very proud.
Then later our usual and sometimes unusual Postman came in and said he’d heard about what we had done and did we know who the chap was?
Well the next bit made us humble.
The Gentleman had served in Bomber command during the Second World War. He flew 58 missions over enemy territory and was the highest scoring Gunner in the RAF.
He wanted the beer because his Sons were coming to visit him and he wanted to have something for them.
I was still picking my jaw off the floor when his nephew came in to say Thank you once again on the old chaps behalf. Stone cold class.
No man who has done so much for his country should ever be unable to buy a beer. I will personally see to it that this gentleman will not buy beer from us again.
We are the ones who should be saying thank you.
If you live near an old person this Christmas, if you think they might be alone, make some time for them. Help them if you want. You never know what you might learn. You will feel better for it.
Happy Christmas Friends.
The company he works for is Loose Cannon Brewery in Oxfordshire
Moggy
By: charliehunt - 27th December 2012 at 16:36
The strength of that story lies with the generosity of spirit shown by the brewery to help an old man. Who is is and what he probably was add to the poignancy of the story.
The courtesy of the man in showing his gratitude completes the cycle of common warmth, helpfulness and gratitude shown by stranger to stranger.
Although I look out for her I always visit my long-widowed neighbour on Christmas Eve. She has an extended family so is not alone for long but they go their separate ways over Christmas so we enjoy a chat to break up the day. I wish we respected and treasured our old more than we do. Many have given and still do give a great deal and there is never a substitute for knowledge through experience.
By: Bmused55 - 26th December 2012 at 12:37
The fact that the Gentleman acknowledged the gift with a card and hand written letter speaks volumes about him.
They are sadly all to few like him left in this ever increasingly cold and disinterested world.
By: Moggy C - 26th December 2012 at 11:11
Thank you for that. Good deeds shouldn’t go unrewarded.
Chris, a friend and fellow pilot has had a torrid year, much in his life is not as he would wish it, but he still takes the time to think of others.
He always has been a top bloke, since we started on the refurb of my Daimler Ferret many years ago, I doubt it would have been completed without his help.
Now he works for the brewery, but has yet to disprove my oft-voiced assertion that he couldn’t organise a p***-up in such an establishment :D:D:D
The claim of wartime kills may not stand-up to intense scrutiny, but I’m happy to accept it as ‘near enough’ that in his twilight years it should be accepted at face value.
Moggy
By: Bmused55 - 26th December 2012 at 11:07
I certainly did not.
In fact, I made a point of mentioning the brewery.
I believe good deeds should never go unrewarded. I wish this company the very best of luck and prosperity.
By: Moggy C - 26th December 2012 at 10:29
Bmused. I hope you didn’t remove the name of the brewery?
It deserves wide acknowledgement for its selfless actions.
Moggy
By: bazv - 26th December 2012 at 09:54
Sadly not W Mcintosh…he passed in 2007
RAF air gunner list from one of the ww2 forums
Frederick Barker-. 13- 264- RAF- Defiant
Albert Lippett- … 12- 264- RAF- Defiant
John Roberts- …. 12- 108- RAF- Blenheim
S. B. Johnson- … 11- 264- RAF- Defiant
Frederick King- … 10- 264- RAF- Defiant
Henry Jacobs- …. 8- 219/600- RAF- Blenheim
P. Lillie- …………. 8- 264- RAF- Defiant
Wallace McIntosh- 8 – 207- RAF- Lancaster
L. H. Hayden-…… 7- 264- RAF- Defiant
C. Sutherland-….. 7- 207- RAF- Lancaster
?. Bradford-……… 6- 57- RAF-Lancaster
Peter Engbrecht-.. 6- 424- RCAF- Halifax(Top Turret)
Robert Turner-…… 6- 264- RAF- Defiant
Fred Gash- ………. 5- 264- RAF- Defiant
?. Martain- ………. 5- 264- RAF- Defiant
F.W. Wake-………. 5- 264- RAF- Defiant
J.E.M. Williams-….. 5- 264- RAF- Defiant
By: Bmused55 - 26th December 2012 at 09:39
What a beautiful and heart-warming story. Well done to those involved.
I hope you don’t mind, but I pasted this onto my facebook, with names removed of course. This lovely story deserves to be told and read by many.
My Hungarian colleague just read it and got goose bumps.
It makes me cry when I hear that these people who fought for our country are in such a position. They deserve so much more.
By: A225HVY - 26th December 2012 at 07:59
ZRX61; So who is the old man?
Wallace McIntosh??
Nice work by the brewery doffs cap
By: ZRX61 - 26th December 2012 at 05:35
So who is the old man?
By: silver fox - 25th December 2012 at 22:39
That story won’t make the national media, but is absolutely priceless.
Well done that brewery you deserve every success for your kindness.
By: Lincoln 7 - 25th December 2012 at 17:21
A real heart touching story, may that particular Brewery never run dry, which is more than I can say for my eyes, after reading that wonderful story, which I have no doubt in believing is true.:)
Whoever you may be,
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: bazv - 25th December 2012 at 16:16
My pleasure…hope you having a good xmas
rgds baz
By: John Green - 25th December 2012 at 16:13
bazv
Many thanks,
By: Bob - 25th December 2012 at 15:34
By jove, nice one chaps…
Merry Xmas to them too!
By: bazv - 25th December 2012 at 14:18
Allow me to google that for you…:D
rgds baz
By: John Green - 25th December 2012 at 13:37
Timely and humbling. Does anyone know the address of the Loose Cannon Brewery?
By: Wyvernfan - 24th December 2012 at 21:49
That is a lovely story, both heart warming and a touch sad. The kind spirited generosity of the giver and the genuine humble gratitude of the receiver are priceless. Both have made each others Christmas extra special!
Well done Loose Cannon Brewery in Oxfordshire.
Rob
By: AutoStick - 24th December 2012 at 21:24
A great story , with a little Christmas touch ..Its a sad fact that some British seniors , Heros or not , are finding life a bit of a struggle .
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December 24, 2012 at 8:48 pm