TOPIC OF THE WEEK

On of the pleasant things about being a reporter is to write about a subject which makes you feel good for the courage shown by other people who often shun the limelight of publicity.

Probably courage is not the correct word to use in this brief report, this I will leave for you the reader to decide.

You may have read or heard on the radio or television last week, how a 72 year old Laneham man, despite suffering from a chest complaint, quickly dashed to the aid of an 18 month girl who had fallen into a grain pit, and who was within seconds, or at the most another minute of drowning in the four feet of water in the pit.

Just to recap, if you missed the story, retired old age pensioner, Mr. Albert Ernest Marfleet, who lives in Broadings Lane, Laneham, was returning from a casual afternoon walk with his dog, when he heard the diamatic cries of 4 year old David Mongomery, who lives with his parents next door to the Marfleets. David told this 72 year old man that his sister Louise had fallen into a pit of water at a nearby farm.

Quickly, Mr. Marfleet was on the scene soon to be joined by others, I say soon, but to Mr. Marfleet it must have seemed a long time, as he gave the young girl artificial respiration, well knowning that he himself was quickly tiring from the strain of his chest complaint. However, as so very often on these occasions other help was at hand, and soon the young girl was taken by ambulance to Retford Hospital.

Still obviously shaken by the ordeal, when a reporter called on him two hours after the incident, Mr. Marfleet said the young person was dead when he arrived on the scene, but he fought to save this child's life and he won.

Mr. Marfleet is a quiet and modest man, in fact, a man who tries to overcome his ill health by helping others, a man the residents of Laneham have talked about with pride, more than usual this week, for being a former man who spent 33 years of his life on the Mersey boats, courage was a key word and still is.

The parents and the people of Laneham are grateful to him, and if there was a medal for the "man of the week" it would surely go to Mr. Marfleet the man with courage, who could wear it with a real sense of loyalty and faith.

For to be loyal is to be faithful, and this is not lacking in the likes of men like Mr. Marfleet. I am sure the other helpers would agree on this.

Fred Clark.

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© Marfleet Family History 2000
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