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A Holbeach St Johns family have passed on a vet's medal for bravery to his only child after more than 60 years




A former Long Sutton vet's medal for bravery has finally been passed on to his only child nearly 60 years after his death.

Louis Govaerts, who worked at the Creasey Veterinary Surgery from 1954 to 1956 before moving to Canada, was awarded an RSPCA bronze medal after rescuing a horse that was trapped in a farm sewer.

Before his death in 1960, Mr Govaerts gave his medal to farming family John and Mary Cragg, of Holbeach St Johns, with a request that they give it to his daughter Fleur Govaerts who was less than a year old when the vet died of cancer.

The RSPCA bronze medal awarded to former Long Sutton vet Louis Govaerts. Photo: SG170919-137TW
The RSPCA bronze medal awarded to former Long Sutton vet Louis Govaerts. Photo: SG170919-137TW

Eventually after years of trying to trace her, Mary and her daughters Angie Cragg and Sue Foyster were able to honour Mr Govaerts' wish and hand over the medal to Fleur on Tuesday.

Sue said: "I've always known about the medal, as well as Fleur who was born in the same year as me.

"My mum and dad had a farm with lots of animals and so Louis would come and do check-ups on them.

Fleur Govaerts (second right) is presented with her late father's RSPCA bronze medal by Mary Cragg (second left), watched by Sue Foyster (left) and Elaine Hilliam. Photo (TIM WILSON): SG-170919-132TW
Fleur Govaerts (second right) is presented with her late father's RSPCA bronze medal by Mary Cragg (second left), watched by Sue Foyster (left) and Elaine Hilliam. Photo (TIM WILSON): SG-170919-132TW

"Louis became friends with Mum and Dad but in 1957, he went to Canada because he there would be better opportunities there for him and his wife Pat, Fleur's mother.

"In 1959, Louis and Pat came back to England where she became pregnant and gave birth to Fleur who knew nothing about the medal and how her dad had helped to rescue a horse."

A report in the Lincolnshire Free Press at the time described how Mr Govaerts "waded chest deep into a field sewer to fasten hauling tackle across a horse that had fallen in" at a farm near Algarkirk.

Firefighters of the day, assisted by farm and railway workers, took three hours to rescue and Mr Govaerts was put forward for recognition by the RSPCA after the fire officer in charge of the operation said: "We couldn't have done a thing really without the veterinary surgeon's help.

The letter sent by Sue Foyster to Fleur Govaerts about her late father's RSPCA bronze medal for rescuing a horse that was trapped in a 'field sewer' at a farm near Algarkirk. Photo: SG170919-138TW
The letter sent by Sue Foyster to Fleur Govaerts about her late father's RSPCA bronze medal for rescuing a horse that was trapped in a 'field sewer' at a farm near Algarkirk. Photo: SG170919-138TW

"He was the real hero."

Angie said: "We understand that the horse was up to its neck in field sewage which means that Louis would have been forced to go under the horse and tie the straps around it before the rescue team could pull it out of the sewer."

Fleur, a former motor mechanic and college lecturer living in Canada, flew over specially to collect her father's medal after Sue managed to trace her with the help of ancestry researcher Elaine Hilliam, of Whaplode.

The letter sent by Sue Foyster to Fleur Govaerts about her late father's rescue of a horse trapped in a 'field sewer', the medal itself and news reports about the rescue operation at a farm near Algarkirk. Photo: SG170919-134TW
The letter sent by Sue Foyster to Fleur Govaerts about her late father's rescue of a horse trapped in a 'field sewer', the medal itself and news reports about the rescue operation at a farm near Algarkirk. Photo: SG170919-134TW

"I found a thread of messages from Fleur on a family history website and the last sentence stated that she was in Canada," Elaine said.

"So Sue sent a letter to Fleur explaining that the medal had been left in her mum's care by Louis and would she like to get in touch and collect it."

Fleur said: "I didn't know anything about what my dad did over 60 years ago until I got Sue's letter two weeks ago.

Details of the birth of Fleur Govaerts to parents Louis and Pat. Photo: SG170919-139TW
Details of the birth of Fleur Govaerts to parents Louis and Pat. Photo: SG170919-139TW

"So I thought as I was coming to the UK for my aunt's 90th birthday anyway, I could pick up my dad's medal as well."



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