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D-day veteran Bernard Jordan’s wife Irene dies aged 88 D-day veteran Bernard Jordan’s wife Irene dies aged 88
(about 13 hours later)
The wife of a war veteran who slipped away from his care home to attend last year’s 70th anniversary D-day events in France has died – just days after his death. Press Association
Irene Jordan, 88, died on Tuesday evening, a week after the death of her husband, Bernard, who was nicknamed the Great Escaper after his cross-Channel adventure last summer. The wife of a war veteran who slipped away from his care home to attend last year’s D-day 70th anniversary events in France has died days after her husband.
He died in hospital aged 90 on 30 December – six months after he captured the nation’s hearts when he travelled to D-day events in Normandy wearing his war medals. Irene Jordan, 88, died on Tuesday evening, a week after the death of her husband, Bernard, who was nicknamed the Great Escaper after his cross-Channel adventure last summer. He died in hospital aged 90 on 30 December – six months after he captured national attention when he travelled to D-day commemorative events in Normandy wearing his war medals.Amanda Scott, the managing director of Gracewell Healthcare, which runs The Pines care home in Hove, East Sussex, where the couple lived, confirmed Irene Jordan’s death. “Irene and Bernie will both be much missed by everyone at the home and our thoughts and prayers go out to their friends and family at this sad time.”
The managing director of Gracewell Healthcare, which runs The Pines care home in Hove, East Sussex, where the couple lived, confirmed Irene Jordan’s death. The mayor of Brighton and Hove, Brian Fitch, paid tribute to the Jordans. “They were a very close couple who will both be sadly missed,” he said. “Irene went into the care home first, after Bernie had looked after her at home, so it came as a bit of a shock that he died first.
Amanda Scott said: “Irene and Bernie will both be much missed by everyone at the home and our thoughts and prayers go out to their friends and family at this sad time.” “They had been married for more than 50 years and were a devoted couple. After he had gone, she probably gave up the will. They were religious people who are now reunited.”A ceremony celebrating their lives will take place at All Saints church in Hove on 30 January, followed by a private funeral. A minute’s silence will be held at the next meeting of Brighton and Hove council.
Brighton and Hove’s mayor, Brian Fitch, paid tribute to the Jordans. He said: “They were a very close couple who will both be sadly missed. Irene went into the care home first after Bernie had looked after her at home, so it came as a bit of a shock that he died first. Bernard Jordan’s disappearance triggered a police search on 5 June. His whereabouts emerged only when a younger second world war veteran phoned that night to say he had met him and he was safe.
“They had been married for more than 50 years and were a devoted couple. After he had gone, she probably gave up the will. They were religious people who are now reunited together.” Jordan, a former member of the Royal Navy and ex-mayor of Hove, said on his return his aim was to remember his fallen mates. He had decided to join British veterans, most of them making their final pilgrimage to the scene of the allied invasion.
A ceremony celebrating their lives will be held at All Saints church in Hove on 30 January followed by a private funeral, Fitch added. About 156,000 allied troops landed on the five beaches on 6 June 1944, the start of an 80-day campaign to liberate Normandy that involved 3 million soldiers and cost 250,000 lives.
A minute’s silence will be held at the next full meeting of Brighton and Hove council. Jordan had hoped to return to Normandy in June this year. Brittany Ferries, which carried him across the Channel last summer, offered him free crossings after learning of his exploits.Following his death, the Royal British Legion said Jordan’s decision to go to France highlighted “the spirit that epitomises the second world war generation”.
Bernard Jordan’s disappearance triggered a police search on 5 June and his whereabouts emerged only when a younger second world war veteran phoned that night to say he had met him and he was safe.
Jordan, a former Royal Navy member and ex-mayor of Hove, told reporters on his return that his aim was to remember his fallen “mates”.
He had decided to join British veterans, most making their final pilgrimage to revisit the scene of the allied invasion.
About 156,000 allied troops landed on the five beaches on 6 June 1944, the start of an 80-day campaign to liberate Normandy that involved three million soldiers and cost 250,000 lives.
Jordan had hoped to return to Normandy this June. Brittany Ferries, which carried him across the Channel last summer, offered him free crossings to D-day events for the rest of his life after learning of his exploits.
Following his death, the Royal British Legion said Jordan’s decision to go to France highlighted “the spirit that epitomises the second world war generation”.
On his 90th birthday, days after he returned from his escapade, he was inundated with more than 2,500 birthday cards from around the world.On his 90th birthday, days after he returned from his escapade, he was inundated with more than 2,500 birthday cards from around the world.
Jordan was later made an honorary alderman of Brighton and Hove in a special ceremony at Brighton town hall.Jordan was later made an honorary alderman of Brighton and Hove in a special ceremony at Brighton town hall.
Others to have also received the honour include Burmese democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi, former Olympic champion Steve Ovett, and first world war hero Henry Allingham, who became the world’s oldest man before his death at 113 in 2009.Others to have also received the honour include Burmese democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi, former Olympic champion Steve Ovett, and first world war hero Henry Allingham, who became the world’s oldest man before his death at 113 in 2009.