Mike Edwards tribute to WW2 veteran Dennis 'Spike' Jones

My first job as a DL was to lay a wreath at the war memorial in Shandon on Remembrance Sunday. I parked behind a neat little car, with an older gentleman at the wheel, and as I walked past, I saw his beret, military tie and rows of medals. He saw me, got out of his car, and we chatted away.

As a bit of a spotter, I saw that he had many of the decorations my father had from his time in the Royal Navy in World War Two. What stood out were the medals from the Korean War and a special decoration the Russian government issued to veterans of the Arctic convoys.

This was my first introduction to the remarkable Dennis ‘Spike’ Jones, a centenarian and a Helensburgh legend.

Dennis 'Spike' Jones has died just a few weeks after celebrating his 100th birthday. (Image: Gordon Russell)

Since then, I was fortunate to spend time with Spike, hear his tales, and listen to a voice of great experience. Most telling for me was the day we went to Hermitage Academy and spoke to pupils about what it was like to be at war. When we got to the nitty gritty, I shut up and let him do the talking, because his experiences were far more profound than mine.

He was in such good shape, I thought he would go on for years more. Sadly he passed away last weekend, just weeks after he celebrated his 100th birthday.

Thank you, Spike. Sleep well, shipmate.

Gareth Southgate resigned on Tuesday, less than 48 hours after England's 2-1 loss to Spain in the final of Euro 2024. (Image: Bradley Collyer PA Wire)

Feeling like I had read the script beforehand, possibly several times, I sat down to watch the final of the Euros.

I was born in England, married into an English family, most of my Army mates are English and I love going to and being in England. And to be honest I don’t really mind if England win things on the sports field. I just don’t want to hear about it for ever more.

This "football’s coming home" trope is as vapid as it gets. Schadenfreude is not my thing at all as a well-rounded adult, but it's the "coming home" meme which makes me shrug my shoulders with indifference when England implode, as they always do.

This is not the forum for the "whither Kane?" argument, nor a treatise about Southgate resigning with the World Cup and another tilt at glory on the horizon.

All I will say about the on-field contretemps is that while England’s media and support gets carried away with football’s aforementioned journey whence it came, the opposition shuts ears and eyes to everything bar getting the job done.

That process is forensic. It is ruthless. It is wholly bereft of emotion, fully professional and complete.

And before you start the "and how far did Scotland get?" whine, I don’t disagree. The recent election shows Scottish independence is no longer a political issue, and it appears this great nation now marks its nationalism by merely qualifying for tournaments and partying round the clock when they get there.

As ever, we got back before the postcards, while England’s fans and media basked in the forlorn hope that they would bring football home.

I never thought I’d ever feel sorry for them.

And I was right.