As the subject is open, I hear there is a developing campaign to award Bill Deacon a posthumous George Cross.
Well deserved.
Apparantly however, the recommendation should have come from the Coastguard and due to feet dragging, or just sheer ignorance, little progress has been made.
Two years on I fear the opportunity to recognise this bravery is slipping away.
Contrary to some media reports, the George Cross, as shown by its recent award to the RUC, can be awarded to civilians who display outstanding courage in the most difficult circumstances.
I stand to be corrected, but I believe it was introduced by King George during the blitz and its first recepients were bomb squad officers and members of the emergency services. No more fitting example of selfless courage to carry on that fine tradition, I believe.