Spitfire flypast highlight of party for 109 year old borough World War 2 hero

An awe-inspiring salute to Britain’s oldest surviving World War Two veteran saw Winston Churchill and King George VI lookalikes and an overhead spitfire salute as part of a celebration at the Ilkeston care home where the 109-year-old lives.

The iconic warplane from the Lincolnshire based Battle of Britain Memorial flight flew over Canal Vue Care Home on Awsworth Road in honour of hero Donald Rose. The tribute came six months after the Mayor of Erewash made a November pilgrimage to shake the ex-Desert Rat’s hand on Armistice Day.  Donald was 108 at the time but has since celebrated another birthday.

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The RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was keen to pay to tribute to him after staff at the home contacted them.  

The spectacle on Bank Holiday Monday May 6th 2024 drew huge crowds to a wartime-themed party for the modest old soldier, who turned 109 on Christmas Eve.  The party included reprises of wartime speeches, and songs from Lily Taylor-Ward, Sandiacre-based singer who performs songs from wartime as 'Lily Lovejoy'.

Donald is the world’s fourth-oldest surviving World War 2 veteran. He was born in 1914 and served on the frontline with the 7th Armoured Division after joining the Queen’s Royal Regiment at age 25. He saw action in North Africa, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany – later training as a sniper.

The dad of one, whose wife died in 2001, was repeatedly decorated, including being given France’s highest award – the Legion D'Honneur. But his son David Rose, 74  – a retired NHS hospital technician living in West Hallam – said: “He didn’t want the medals, he wanted no fuss and he just got on with it.”

Donald has said when quizzed in the past about his longevity: “Everyone asks this – there’s no secret.”

When TV cameras captured the Mayor of Erewash Councillor Frank Phillips shaking his hand, the unassuming hero said of the fanfare: “I’m not worth all this.”

A crowd of onlookers chorused: “Yes you are!” Donald is described by care home staff as being “mad about motorbikes”. He got to sit on a souped-up machine when riders staged a cavalcade for him at the care home. 

Erewash Mayor, Councillor Frank Phillips said: “The borough and the entire nation owe an immense debt of gratitude to Donald and all those like him – lest we forget.” 

Officials attending the event included Erewash MP Maggie Throup and Deputy Mayor Councillor Kate Fennelly, the latter attending in her capacity as the town hall’s Armed Forces Champion. Councillor Fennelly said: "Having served in the RAF I have the utmost respect for our courageous old soldiers, especially world war veterans like Donald. There are fewer and fewer left who we can talk to face-to-face about their experiences.”

The Spitfire salute was organised by Donald’s care home activity co-ordinator Naomi Allsop, who described it as something that had been on his “bucket list”. She said of the old soldier: "He's a beautiful soul inside and out. All the staff love him.”