That, however, is exactly how John Neff described the Windsor Fund that he headed for more than three decades.

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Previous recipients of the BIFF Lifetime Achievement Award include John Hurt, Jean Simmons, Barbara Windsor, Claire Bloom, Ken Loach, Jack Cardiff and Richard Attenborough.

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"John Sheardown remained a very humble man, always willing to stay in the shadow of others, and the people of Windsor remain extremely proud of his diplomatic intervention and career accomplishments, " read a proclamation that declared November 10, 2012, "John Sheardown Day" in the city of Windsor, in Ontario, Canada.

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