Local hero commemorated

3.07.41pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 17th Jul 2009

Local war hero, Norman Jackson VC was commemorated in the opening of the new Surestart Centre at Hampton Hill Junior School. The Centre is being named after him.

At a ceremony on Friday, with children and grandchildren of Norman Jackson, together with school governors and others, Vincent Cable MP formally opened the Centre and paid tribute to "a truly remarkable man. The Victoria Cross is awarded for remarkable acts of courage in wartime and Norman Jackson's bravery in a Lancaster Bomber during a bombing raid was one of those. After his plane was attacked by fighters, he climbed out onto the wing to put out a fire and then fell to earth in a blazing parachute suffering massive injuries. After period in a prisoner of war camp he tried to escape.

"Ever since the 150th Anniversary of the Victoria Cross, I have been trying to find a way of commemorating Norman Jackson properly. The School came up with the idea of naming the Centre after him, which ensures that his courage will be remembered."