SIR: As a long-time resident in Jersey, I am unfamiliar with, and have no interest in football. I have returned for a short time to my home town, to find your paper pushing for a knighthood for a man called Nat Lofthouse, who played football for Bolton Wanderers, for money I presume.
His photograph shows a pleasant enough gentleman whose playing days must have ended some 40 years ago. Your paper does not tell us, who know little about the man, what meritorious, devoted, outstanding service he has performed for his country or fellow man since leaving the sport.
If dedicated, selfless service qualifies for a knighthood, can I recommend, before it's too late, my old grandad? He was a prisoner of war. You'd recognise him by the curved scar on his forehead, the result of a warning blow from a Japanese sabre. His war left him beaten but unbowed, not a Lion of Vienna, rather a Bulldog of Burma.
Despite his emaciated condition, he got his act together, and worked without ever drawing benefits. After his retirement he worked free of charge for the British Legion, Age Concern and Citizens' Advice Bureau.
If dedicated, selfless, cheerful service can qualify a lady to be made a Dame, can I nominate my Mum?
Always a Boltonian.
Mr J F Kippax
La Verte Rue
Jersey, C.I.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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