Exclusive: Moving moment as disabled Chesterfield great-grandfather, 82, travels to France to pay tribute to grandfather who died in WW1
A Chesterfield born and bred ex-miner has defied all odds and embarked on a long journey to France to pay tribute to his grandfather who lost his life fighting during the First World War.
Alan Love, 82, of Bolsover, travelled to France to fulfil his life-long dream and find his grandad’s name Bertrun on a war memorial near Arras.
Mr Love, a great-grandfather-of-five, said: “All my life I always wanted to find my grandad’s name in France.
"In 1916 he came home wounded and said the war was nothing but a population reset.
"Six weeks before the end of the war he was blown up in France."
Mr Love, an ex miner, who raised two children with his late wife, explained he didn’t have a chance to travel to Arras when he was younger.
16 years ago he underwent a hip replacement surgery, which was followed by two further hip operations, leaving Mr Love relying to crutches to walk.
But last year he decided to defy the odds and asked his son Andrew, to help him fulfil his life-long dream.
Mr Love, born and bred in Newbold, said: "I asked my son to book everything and we went in September.
"I was worried I might not be able to complete it because I am limited after hip replacement surgeries and I use crutches to walk.”
Mr Love and his son Andrew Love, set off from Chesterfield Train Station to London St Pancras, before continuing their train journey to Lille in France.
Andrew said: “We embarked from Chesterfield Train Station, my dad with his crutches due to having both hips replaced, and donning his grandad’s medals with pride.
"We had numerous conversations with people all of whom were took up with our trip and the fact that my dad at 82 was making the trip.”
After many long hours, the father and son duo arrived in Lille, where with assistance of an Eurostar employee, they boarded another train, to Arras.
Andrew added: “ I spoke to a young guy who worked for Eurostar for assistance in getting the correct train to Arras. He was very helpful and interested in our venture.”
After a long journey, Andrew and Alan enjoyed a meal at a local restaurant, where they spoke to a number of people from across the UK, US and Canada, who were also in the area to visit one of dozens war memorials near Arras.
The very next morning the pair took a taxi to Vis-en-Arrois memorial.
Alan said: “It took a while to find my grandad’s name because it was raining and there were 10,000 names on the wall.
"The taxi driver kindly got us umbrellas and waited for us.
"When we found his name B. Love I was so pleased.”
After finding the grave, Mr Love saluted to his grandfather and laid down flowers to commemorate him.
Andrew said: “It was a very emotional moment. I was so happy for my dad and proud that he had made the trip.”
He added: “We were amazed how immaculate the memorial was, not a blade of grass out of place.”
Andrew and Alan spent the afternoon in Arras, before their journey back early next morning.
Their trip had been delayed, but father and son luckily manage to speak to the same Eurostar employee as before – who offered to upgrade their tickets to first class with no additional cost.
Alan said: “I cried when they upgraded us to first class. I could not believe it.
"It’s a shame we didn’t get the young chap’s name.”
Andrew added: “The young chap who advised us a couple of days before remembered us and was interested in how the trip had gone.
"He was so pleased for my dad that he had achieved his goal.
“We were delayed slightly and to our amazement, the chap came back to dad gave us an upgrade to first class - a wonderful perk to a wonderful trip.”
After returning home, Andrew has helped his dad make a photo album made, showcasing pictures from the trip.
Andrew added: “My dad is still amazed that I did everything on my phone without having to speak to anyone and how smooth and well planned it was.
"It truly was worth it for my dad to fulfil his lifelong wish.”