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| Bernard Jordan: City honour for veteran's 'heroic escapade' | Bernard Jordan: City honour for veteran's 'heroic escapade' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A WW2 veteran who disappeared from his nursing home to attend the D-Day commemorations in France could soon be honoured for his "heroic escapade", the mayor of Brighton and Hove has said. | A WW2 veteran who disappeared from his nursing home to attend the D-Day commemorations in France could soon be honoured for his "heroic escapade", the mayor of Brighton and Hove has said. |
| Councillor Brian Fitch has put forward a proposal for Bernard Jordan to be given the Freedom of the City. | Councillor Brian Fitch has put forward a proposal for Bernard Jordan to be given the Freedom of the City. |
| The move has to be approved by Brighton council chiefs, but if it goes ahead it could happen as early as next month. | |
| "It's the biggest honour you can give anyone," Mr Fitch said. | "It's the biggest honour you can give anyone," Mr Fitch said. |
| 'British spirit' | 'British spirit' |
| On Thursday, Mr Jordan, 89, left The Pines care home in Hove, where he lives with his wife, and was reported missing to Sussex Police that evening. | On Thursday, Mr Jordan, 89, left The Pines care home in Hove, where he lives with his wife, and was reported missing to Sussex Police that evening. |
| It was later discovered he was safe and well and had joined other veterans in France, where hundreds of veterans marked the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings on Friday. | It was later discovered he was safe and well and had joined other veterans in France, where hundreds of veterans marked the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings on Friday. |
| Staff at his nursing home had tried to get him on to an accredited tour to Normandy with the Royal British Legion but it was a last-minute request and had not been possible. | Staff at his nursing home had tried to get him on to an accredited tour to Normandy with the Royal British Legion but it was a last-minute request and had not been possible. |
| Undeterred, Mr Jordan decided he would go there anyway - but his trip sparked a police alert and threw him into the media spotlight. | Undeterred, Mr Jordan decided he would go there anyway - but his trip sparked a police alert and threw him into the media spotlight. |
| On his return, Mr Jordan, a former Royal Navy officer, said he never imagined his visit would cause such a stir. | On his return, Mr Jordan, a former Royal Navy officer, said he never imagined his visit would cause such a stir. |
| "His determination showed the spirit of D-Day. He's still got it," Mr Fitch said. | "His determination showed the spirit of D-Day. He's still got it," Mr Fitch said. |
| "I think it encourages people of any age. They admire someone who's got guts and determination. | "I think it encourages people of any age. They admire someone who's got guts and determination. |
| "When they said he couldn't go there, he said 'I'll get there myself'. It's the British spirit." | "When they said he couldn't go there, he said 'I'll get there myself'. It's the British spirit." |
| Mr Fitch said he would be meeting Mr Jordan, who is also a former mayor of Hove, to discuss the plan and also hear about the veteran's trip to France. | Mr Fitch said he would be meeting Mr Jordan, who is also a former mayor of Hove, to discuss the plan and also hear about the veteran's trip to France. |
| He described it as an escapade but said it was also "heroic", because of the importance of D-Day. | He described it as an escapade but said it was also "heroic", because of the importance of D-Day. |
| "It's meaning to Bernie and many of us is it's part of our history and part of our love for freedom," he said. | "It's meaning to Bernie and many of us is it's part of our history and part of our love for freedom," he said. |
| "It's important to remember those who gave their lives." | "It's important to remember those who gave their lives." |