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'Unbelievable' rescue unites families 100 years on

Amber Maceyin Boston
News imageBBC An image of two older women holding a newspaper clipping from 1926. The woman on the left has short hair and black glasses. She is wearing a blue and pink shirt. The woman on the right is wearing a stripy black and white top and wearing black glasses.BBC
Anne Halliday (left) says the bravery of Sue Robinson's grandfather was "unbelievable"

A selfless act of courage that saved the life of a three-year-old boy has been celebrated by two families 100 years on.

On 3 August 1926, young George Blake fell into a fast-flowing river in Boston, Lincolnshire, and PC Samuel Pope plunged in to rescue him.

Blake's daughter, Anne Halliday, met Pope's granddaughter, Sue Robinson, at the site of the rescue on Monday.

"I grew up knowing this man was a hero," Halliday said. "My dad would be very pleased Samuel was being recognised for his bravery."

News imageClippings from a newspaper of 1926. On the left a close-up of black-and-white pictures of PC Pope, a young man, and George Blake, a young boy; on the right, an old newspaper article.
Newspapers reported the dramatic rescue of George Blake

Pope was on duty at the corner of Bridge Street and High Street when a passer-by alerted him to a child falling into the River Haven.

He rushed to the town bridge and saw Blake being carried along by the current. Without hesitation, he jumped in and managed to seize the boy before bringing him to shore.

Robinson described the story of the rescue as "unbelievable".

News imageA woman wearing a stripy black and white top holding a silver medal with black and white ribbon housed in a red case with white and mustard-yellow inserts. She has blond hair and is standing in front of a river bank.
Sue's family "holds dear" the medal awarded to her grandfather for bravery

"It's been in my family for as long as I can remember," Robinson said.

"My grandfather was a kind, caring gentleman and someone who was held in high regard by the people of Boston.

"He probably didn't think it was the brave at the time, but it clearly was.

"It was something he just did out of instinct."

News imageA sepia-tinted black-and-white photo of PC Samuel Pope, a male police officer, next to a colour close-up of a silver medal with black, white and red ribbon housed in a red case with white and mustard-yellow inserts. The medal features the face of King George V.
PC Pope joined the Boston police force in 1924, aged 25

Following the rescue, Pope was awarded the King's Police Medal for brave conduct.

He also received an inscribed barometer from the Royal Humane Society.

For many years, however, no one in Robinson's family knew who the "little boy" was.

Ten years ago, she managed to discover his name and tracked down Halliday, who described their meeting as "extra special".

Halliday said her family held Pope in "huge esteem", adding: "I wouldn't be here if PC Pope hadn't been there."

To commemorate the event, a poster was attached to railings and St Botolph's Church – better known as the Boston Stump – was lit up.

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