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Y por esa razón les han dedicado a todos ellos este parque: "Postman's Park", en recuerdo de todos aquellos que dieron sus vidas por salvar las de otros.
Se halla entre King Edward Street, Little Britain y Angel Street, cerca del hospital de St. Bartholomew, justo al norte de St.Paul's Cathedral, y fue concebido por idea del pintor G.F.Watts (un rebelde de su tiempo, 1817-1904, que no se llevaba muy bien con las clases sociales altas...)
Lo que ven bajo este tejadillo es una serie de placas conmemorando los nombres de los héroes y las acciones por las que tántas personas les estarán por siempre agradecidas. Las baldosas están hechas a mano por Royal Doulton.
Durante cerca de mil años hubo en este punto una iglesia: la "Guild & Ward Church of St. Botolph-Without-Aldersgate":
No está mal esto de recordar de vez en cuando a los héroes de a pie de calle, ¿no?
Y estas son -por si alguien tiene mucho interés en saber algo más sobre los anónimos protagonistas de las placas- algunas de las inscripciones:
Sarah Smith, pantomime artiste. At Prince's Theatre died of terrible injuries received when attempting in her inflammable dress to extinguish the flames which had enveloped her companion. January 24 1863.
Joseph Andrew Ford aged 30, Metropolitan Fire Brigade. Saved six persons from a fire in Gray's Inn Road but in his last heroic act he was scorched to death. Oct 7 1871.
William Donald of Bayswater aged 19, railway clerk, was drowned in the Lea trying to save a lad from a dangerous entanglement of weed. July 16 1876.
George Lee, fireman. At a fire in Clerkenwell carried an unconscious girl to the escape falling six times and died of his injuries. July 26 1876.
Ernest Benning, compositor, aged 22. Upset from a boat one dark night off Pimlico Pier grasped an oar with one hand supporting a woman with the other but sank as she was rescued. Aug 25 1883.
Thomas Simpson died of exhaustion after saving many lives from the breaking ice at Highgate Ponds. Jan 25 1885.
Elizabeth Boxall aged 17 of Bethnal Green who died of injuries received in trying to save a child from a runaway horse June 20 1888.
Thomas Griffin, fitters labourer April 12 1899. In a boiler explosion at a Battersea sugar refinery was fatally scalded in returning to search for his mate.
George Stephen Funnell police constable Dec 22 1899. In a fire at the Elephant and Castle, Wick Road, Hackney Wick, after rescuing two lives, went back into the flames, saving a barmaid at the risk of his own life.
Henry James Bristow aged eight - at Walthamstow on December 30 1890 - saved his little sister's life by tearing off her flaming clothes but caught fire himself and died of burns and shock.
Robert Wright, police constable of Croydon. Entered a burning house to save a woman knowing that there was petroleum stored in the cellar - an explosion took place and he was killed. April 30 1893.
William Freer Lucas MRCS LLD at Middlesex Hospital risked poison for himself rather than lessen any chance of saving a child's life and died. Oct 8th 1893
John Clinton aged 10 who was drowned near London Bridge in trying to save a companion younger than himself. July 16 1894.
