Basildon: Eileen can wear her husband’s medals with pride

An elderly Basildon woman will be able to wear her husband’s RAF medals with pride on Remembrance Sunday thanks to two of our police community support officers and some help from their friends.

PCSOs Daniel Brady and Kyli Nice, of our Basildon and Laindon Community Policing Team, befriended 95-year-old Eileen more than two years ago, at the start of the first national lockdown.

And now they see her once a month to check she is alright and take her to St Nicholas’ Church in Laindon when they attend for Coffee with Cops sessions.

Kyli and Daniel took Eileen to the Laindon beacon lighting in June to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and, afterwards, introduced her to Essex Deputy Lieutenant Colonel Peter Christian.

Eileen told him all about her husband Fred, who served our country as a corporal in the RAF during World War Two and was mentioned in Dispatches. Fred died in 1993 and his framed medals have pride of place in Eileen’s home.

Col Christian suggested Eileen could have her husband’s medals replicated so she could wear them with pride on special occasions.

A delighted Eileen received the replica medals during a special service at St Nicholas’ Church on Sunday 6 November.

Priest-in-charge Father Andrei Petrine and Laindon borough and county councillor Jeff Henry presented them to her on behalf of Col Christian, watched by the congregation, including Daniel and Kyli who had kept the surprise from her.

Eileen said she was moved to tears and couldn’t thank everyone enough for the kind gesture. She is due to wear the medals with ‘great pride’ on Remembrance Sunday, 13 November, at a service at Laindon war memorial.

“Kyli and I are always pleased to help people where we can and Eileen is great company. It was great that Colonel Christian was able to arrange for her to receive replicas of her late husband’s medals.”
PCSO Daniel Brady

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