A century after a three-year-old boy was saved from a fast-flowing river, two families have celebrated the act of courage. On 3 August 1926, George Blake fell into the River Haven in Boston, Lincolnshire, and PC Samuel Pope jumped in to rescue him.
Blake's daughter, Anne Halliday, met Pope's granddaughter, Sue Robinson, at the site of the rescue on Monday. Ms Halliday stated that her father would be pleased PC Pope was being recognised for his bravery, adding, "I wouldn't be here if PC Pope hadn't been there."
PC Pope, who was on duty at the time, was alerted to the child falling into the river by a passer-by. He rushed to the town bridge, saw Blake being carried by the current, and jumped in to seize the boy before bringing him to shore. Following the rescue, PC Pope was awarded the King's Police Medal for brave conduct and received an inscribed barometer from the Royal Humane Society.
To commemorate the event, a poster was attached to railings and St Botolph's Church, also known as the Boston Stump, was lit up.