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Chris Tarrant backs WWI hero Fred Potts statue funding bid | Chris Tarrant backs WWI hero Fred Potts statue funding bid |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Chris Tarrant has backed a bid to raise £165,000 for a statue to commemorate the only man from Reading to win a Victoria Cross medal. | Chris Tarrant has backed a bid to raise £165,000 for a statue to commemorate the only man from Reading to win a Victoria Cross medal. |
The broadcaster and quiz show host, who was born in the town, was asked by the Trooper Potts Memorial Trust to help. | The broadcaster and quiz show host, who was born in the town, was asked by the Trooper Potts Memorial Trust to help. |
Fred Potts was recognised in 1915 for rescuing comrade Arthur Andrews during the Gallipoli campaign in World War I. | Fred Potts was recognised in 1915 for rescuing comrade Arthur Andrews during the Gallipoli campaign in World War I. |
Tarrant was unveiled as a patron of the charitable trust at a press conference. | |
A design for the statue, which has risen in cost by £15,000, has already been chosen and it is hoped to be in place at two possible locations in Reading by the centenary of the rescue in August 2015. | A design for the statue, which has risen in cost by £15,000, has already been chosen and it is hoped to be in place at two possible locations in Reading by the centenary of the rescue in August 2015. |
'Very enthusiastic' | 'Very enthusiastic' |
The two men were injured while advancing on the Turkish line and hid below the Turkish trenches for two days. | The two men were injured while advancing on the Turkish line and hid below the Turkish trenches for two days. |
Eventually Trooper Potts, who had been shot in the thigh, used a shovel as a sledge to drag the badly-injured Trooper Andrews to safety. | Eventually Trooper Potts, who had been shot in the thigh, used a shovel as a sledge to drag the badly-injured Trooper Andrews to safety. |
The Trooper Potts Memorial Trust was set up after his bravery was highlighted in a BBC Radio Berkshire documentary. | The Trooper Potts Memorial Trust was set up after his bravery was highlighted in a BBC Radio Berkshire documentary. |
Tarrant, who lives in Berkshire, said: "My dad was a war hero, he was awarded the Military Cross, but I knew very little about what he did until we did a film about him a couple of years ago. | Tarrant, who lives in Berkshire, said: "My dad was a war hero, he was awarded the Military Cross, but I knew very little about what he did until we did a film about him a couple of years ago. |
"He was my closest friend but he never talked about the war. | "He was my closest friend but he never talked about the war. |
"I'm a Reading boy and the Potts story is amazing, he's an absolute hero. | "I'm a Reading boy and the Potts story is amazing, he's an absolute hero. |
"We should have a memorial for him, so I'm asking people to dig deep, we're going to be going around with our begging bowls." | "We should have a memorial for him, so I'm asking people to dig deep, we're going to be going around with our begging bowls." |
The trust's Richard Bennett said about £25,000 had already been raised and was hopeful that figure would rise to £50,000 before Christmas. | The trust's Richard Bennett said about £25,000 had already been raised and was hopeful that figure would rise to £50,000 before Christmas. |
A number of further fundraising events are planned. | A number of further fundraising events are planned. |
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