Four of his friends came by today to see me and made those same comments, that even at 16 years old, they told me that he was the only one in their class that knew what he was wanting to do and what he was going to do when he got out of school.

CNN: Spann's father: Pride, sorrow, anger

Even today, over six decades later, just hearing that long wail of the warning siren on old newsreels and films gives me that same cold knot of fear in the pit of my stomach which I always felt all those years ago.

BBC: Stanley Ross remembers the Blitz

"We don't achieve anything alone so I thank everybody who has the same mentality as me, " said the 33-year-old.

BBC: Basso is City player of the year