Fred Morgan RIP

Yesterday (Friday) morning, I attended the funeral of Fred Morgan, a good friend of mine. Fred was born in 1924. He was a bright kid, but couldn't attend grammar school, due to his parents financial circumstances and left school at 15. As soon as he was old enough, Fred enrolled to join the RAF. He was undergoing air gunnery training, on a Flying Fortress, when his crew accidentally shot down the plane towing a "target" plane. After that inauspicious start, Fred transferred to the Royal Signals and ended up in India. A bout of malaria saw him hospitalised for the attack on Burma. He ended up in Singapore when it was retaken.

One of the defining moments of Freds life came when the commonwealth occupation force asked for volunteers to serve in Japan. Fred immediately signed up and was one of the first few soldiers to enter Hiroshima following the detonation of  a nuclear bomb over the city. The devastation had a lasting effect on Fred. he once told me that he thought all leaders should have to see such a thing before they talk about nuclear war or defence policy.

Fred fell in love with Japan, its people and its culture, this would be a lifelong love. Whilst many people were extremely bitter at Japan and its military for their war crimes, Fred saw beyond that and realised that the ordinary people of Japan were victims (as in all wars).

Fred returned in 1947 and joined the Post Office. He was a good cricketer and footballer. Fred married Olive in 1949 and settled into family life. Sadly Olive passed away leaving Fred devastated. His redemption from misery was found through serving the community. Fred was a member of all sorts local groups, virtually ran the parish of St Winifrides. He joined HCPT as a helper taking groups of handicapped to Lourdes. It was here that I got to know Fred. Fred was always first up and made the morning teas. He was also the barman. Fred ran a tight ship. He'd have a Scotch and a chat and was always a source of good stories. As a Brentford FC season ticket holder, he was also a great lover of football.

60 years after he left Japan, he returned for a ceremony to commemorate the bombing of Hiroshima and to pray for peace and reconciliation. He returned several times as a guest of honour. Fred was a working class guy with a great sense of humour, a great perspective on the world and great intelligence. He saw the world for what it was, but believed that if we pulled together as a community, we can make it a better place. Fred didn't suffer fools gladly, but was also kind and caring. I'll miss him, but I'm glad I had the honour of being his friend.