WW2 Veteran retires at 95 years young!

20 September 2021

The Team from SSAFA Havant recently held a Farewell Lunch for Mr Bernard ‘Barney’ Cresswell who has decided to retire from volunteering for SSAFA at the grand age of 95 years young!  Barney served an amazing 29 years with SSAFA Havant.  At the lunch, Barney was presented with a whisky tumbler and a framed photograph of the SSAFA Havant team that he had served with for many years, including prolific retired fundraiser Ove Johanson and the much missed Colonel Bill Stevens OBE who sadly passed away in early 2020.

Barney had been a volunteer with Havant Division of SSAFA since 1st September 1992 and has carried out the role of Divisional Treasurer during most of this time.  Before volunteering with SSAFA, Barney saw active service with the Grenadier Guards, landing on the beaches at Normandy on D Day +2 and went on to be involved in Operation MARKET GARDEN fighting through to Nijmegen in Holland and then through to Germany. Following World War 2 he joined the Police Force, rising to the rank of Inspector. During his long service with SSAFA, Barney has stood out as being understanding and having a deep consideration for those in the military community who need our help the most.  Reflecting on the life and career of Barney, Phil Bunday, the current SSAFA Havant Divisional Secretary said “if Barney did not exist, we in Havant would try to invent him.”   This year Barney also became a recipient of the prestigious Sir James Gildea Award, named after our founder – winners are recognised for their exceptional contribution and commitment to SSAFA.

Legend is a word often overused – at SSAFA Hampshire, we think that word describes Barney Cresswell extremely well!