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Hook Re-Dedication
TonyJones


Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Posts: 188
Location: Essex
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Dear All,
i recently attended the Hook re-dedication in Churcham which was a great compliment to a fine man.The day proved to be much more than a tribute,with both families of Hook's two wives together and 'talking shop',plus for the first time,several of the descendants of Hookies co-hospital defenders together,notably,Colin Fielding (John Williams-Fielding),Sandra Barker (Fred Hitch),myself (William Jones),to share in the spirit of Hook's-Fielding's-Hitch's-Jones' courage,determination and grit,without which,non of us would have been able to attend the event.How sad that James Booth,was no longer with us,and i wonder if Hooky said to James on his arrival in the afterlife 'ere i want a word with you'.As the sun shone on Churcham,as possibly Hooky and James Booth looked down on us,perhaps it was the warmth of their joint smiles that illuminated us on that day.Well done to all who those who organized and attended the event,with special thanks from me to the Dean of Gloucester for his information about the history of Wesleyan Methodism.Did any other contributors to the discussion forum go to this event and what were your views on the day.

Tony Jones.
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Diana Blackwell


Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 13
Location: Berkeley, CA
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The full text of Sheldon Hall's speech on this occasion, remembering Hook and Booth, can be found on my James Booth website at
http://jamesbooth.org/sheldon_hook_speech.htm
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James Booth.
TonyJones


Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Posts: 188
Location: Essex
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Dear Diana,
thanks for that info. I've visited your site many, many times and found it absolutely brilliant. I particularly like,despite the artistic licence excercised at Hook's expense,the character that James Booth portrays in the film. The various nuiances and subtleties of Booth's acting skills add much to the character, especially the bit where Booth says:

'we'll look after him (Maxwell) won't we'

then waves his hand from the top bunk near Sgt. Maxfield. Fantastic.

By the way, I've written an account of my ancestor's post service life that you may find of interest on William Jones VC's page enter 'ancestral information from Tony Jones'. It's fresh and controversial and everything I claim is backed up by full documentational evidence, which the reader can check for themselves from official government sources.
I found it fascinating at the Hook re-union how a little piece of our ancestors, Hook, Fielding (Williams), Hitch and Jones has survived in some form (DNA), and once again has come together in a common cause, Hook's re-dedication. All the best,your site provides a valuable service to the 'Rorke's Drift Community'.

Tony Jones.
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Diana Blackwell


Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 13
Location: Berkeley, CA
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Tony,
Thanks very much! Very Happy
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Barbara Grant
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Hello:

I agree that this may be somewhat of a sticky subject for Private Hook's family members, who do not agree with the portrayal of their ancestor in the film. But I'll say this: from my perspective, as an American, there is no way I'd have heard about the courage of your ancestor had I not watched the "Zulu" film. We are simply not taught about Rorke's Drift in America. Seeing this film motivated me to seek more about the defenders of Rorke's Drift, and I applaud the heroism of Pvt. Hook and all the defenders on that day.

Barbara
Hook Re-Dedication
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