Since going to watch veterans skydive for the
Taxi Charity, I have become a supporter of the charity. I am also a Rotarian
and, by chance, when entertaining my 'old boys' for lunch one day, the subject
of the upcoming visit to Berlin to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the
Berlin airlift and my longstanding Rotary colleague Bill Lawson, now aged 98,
mentioned that he had been in the RAF.
From then
on the arrangements were taken in hand and I was given the opportunity of
accompanying Bill, as although still in sound frame of mind, with all his
marbles intact, Bill is a bit wobbly on his pins.
From the
moment of our arrival at Waterloo, and an overnight stay at the Union Jack
Club, we were taken in hand and, thanks to the charity, and Dick and Frances
who pulled it all together, we were able to enjoy VIP treatment
throughout.
On reaching Berlin, four London taxis met us
and took us to the British Embassy for tea. The next three days were a hectic
round of visiting the main sights, Brandenburg Gate (where we were the main
attraction!), Checkpoint Charlie, and the Berlin Wall.
For all of us though, the key highlights were
the extent to which we were hosted by the German government. Talk about pull
out all the stops! At the main evening reception there was so much military
brass present, they could have started up their own band!
The food was really superb and the drink
flowed, ensuring a great, if emotional, time was had by all.
The main memorial service was held in the open
air at Tegel Airport, and was very moving for all of us who had made the
journey. The level of gratitude shown by Berliners towards what had been
achieved during the airlift was very humbling.
It was certainly a trip of a lifetime... In
another five years, how many veterans will be alive to remember it?
Linda Piggott-Vijeh
#BerlinAirlift #BillLawson
Original article can be
found here: https://www.taxicharity.org/post/on-reaching-berlin-four-london-taxis-met-us-and-took-us-to-the-british-embassy-for-tea-linda
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