mirror.co.uk MONDAY 26.08.2019 DAILY MIRROR^21
DM1STPROLIFIC Writer Blyton
Famous Five
Enid a ‘racist
homophobe’
ENID Blyton was denied a
commemorative coin by
the Royal Mint which
considered her a “racist
homophobe”, says a report.
But fans of the Noddy
and Famous Five author
insist her 700 books, which
sold 600 million copies,
inspired children to read.
The idea of a 50p coin, to
mark the 50th anniversary
of Blyton’s 1968 death, was
discussed by the Royal
Mint Advisory Committee.
The 2016 minutes, from
a freedom of information
request, reveal the plan
was ditched as she was
“known to have been a
racist, sexist homophobe
and not well-regarded”.
The committee had
fears about a “backlash”.
Novelist Jilly Cooper
dismissed the criticism as
“rubbish” and added: “Enid
was a brilliant storyteller.”
BY STEPHEN WHITE
FUNNYMAN Billy Connolly
Unique Scots
jokes a myth
says Big Yin
SIR Billy Connolly believes
there is no such thing as
Scottish humour.
Scotland’s most famous
comedian said the idea his
homeland has its own
unique humour is a myth.
He said: “I will get in
trouble for this, but I don’t
think there is such a thing
as Scottish humour.”
Connolly, nicknamed
The Big Yin, said: “I have
bought books of Scottish
jokes and there is nothing
Scottish about them.”
He said: “There’s funny
and there’s not funny and
that’s the beginning, the
middle and the end of it.”
Connolly, 76, born in
Glasgow, has Parkinson’s
disease and lives in Florida.
He retired from stand-
up last year and was
speaking ahead of the
launch of his new book,
Tall Tales and Wee Stories.
BY STUART MACDONALD
BY ADAM ASPINALL ran from Italy into Yugoslavia and later
a sortie that destroyed 11 transport
locomotives.
He left the RAF in 1946 and returned
to Canada, where he became a property
appraiser. His first wife Joan died in 1977
and he then married second wife Bette,
who also passed away.
Sqn Ldr Hart, who had three children,
died on June 18, but news of his death
has only now emerged.
Battle of Britain historian Andy Saun-
ders said: “The debt the nation and the
free world owes to those heroes of The
Few can never be underestimated and
it is terribly sad The Few are yet fewer.”
The Battle of Britain took place
between July 10 and October 31, 1940.
Almost 3,000 Allied airmen, including
112 Canadians, took part, of whom 510
gave their lives.
Sir Winston Churchill summed up the
contribution of RAF Fighter Command
to the war effort with the words, “never
in the field of human conflict was so
much owed by so many to so few”.
[email protected]
@MirrorAspKent. Then in November, he shared
another kill on a Ju88.
There were also several close calls,
including one incident when a Junkers
put a hole in his radiator at 20,000ft over
the English Channel – but he somehow
limped back to base.
Recounting his experiences of battle,
he said: “You didn’t have time to be
scared. You’re thinking about what’s
going on.
“I know I have the
Battle of Britain medal
with a star on it, but I
really didn’t have that
much to do with it.
You were posted to a
squadron and you did
your job.”
Sqn Ldr Hart then
had a stint as a flying
instructor, before
commanding 67
Squadron in Burma in
1943 and 112
Squadron in Italy in March 1945. He led
a formation of fighter planes in a
successful attack on a railway line thatbut we see them all as heroes. Sadly, they
are a dying generation and there are only
four of The Few still living.
“It makes it all the more important
that we carry on their legacy, as there
will be a time when they will no longer
be able to do so. What they achieved
must never be forgotten.”
Sqn Ldr Hart was born in New
Brunswick, Canada, in 1916. An engineer
by trade, he learnt to fly
at Halifax Flying Club, in
Canada, before joining
the RAF in January 1939.
He converted to Spit-
fires, briefly joining 54
Squadron in September
1940, before transferring
to 602 Squadron at RAF
Westhampnett, in West
Sussex, later that month.
He was scrambled on a
daily basis over the south
coast. On October 12, he
helped shoot down a Ju88
fast bomber off the East Sussex coast
and three weeks later, destroyed the
Me109 during a duel in the skies overSAVIOURS
Sqn Ldr
Hart with
fellow pilotsDIGNIFIED
John Hart in his
later yearsBRAVE
FIGHTER
Squadron
Leader
John HartTRIBUTES have been paid to one of
the last surviving Battle of Britain
veterans who has died aged 102.
Squadron Leader John Hart was one
of The Few, the brave men who defeated
the Luftwaffe and ensured Germany did
not invade Britain.
The Spitfire pilot, who served in 602
Squadron, shot down a German Mess-
erschmitt 109 and shared in two kills on
Junkers Ju88 bombers, earning the
Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry.
His death means the number of Battle
of Britain heroes left is just four.
They are Flight Lieutenant William
Clark, 98, Wing Commander Paul
Farnes, 100, Flying Officer John
Hemmingway, 99 and Flight Lieutenant
Maurice Moundson, 100.
David Brocklehurst MBE, chairman of
the Kent Battle of Britain Museum, said:
“John was the archetypal Battle of
Britain pilot – very modest and
self-effacing, the epitome of what they
stood for. He should be remembered for
his bravery. Many of these men said they
were not heroes, just doing their duty,Only four of the famous WWII
RAF flying aces are still alive
John was very
modest and
self-effacing,
the epitome of
what The Few
stood forDAVID BROCKLEHURST OF
BATTLE OF BRITAIN MUSEUMSpitfire hero, one of
The Few, dies at 102
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