THE memory of our late and wonderful Express reporter Bob McGowan has been finally cast into the annals of British history as his rare Falklands medal and memorabilia sold for a remarkable £9,500, reports Tenerife Tel.

Bob’s South Atlantic medal and Rosette were awarded after his reporting of the battle for Mount Longdon and his yomp with 3 Para into Port Stanley. The collection had an estimate of £2,000 to £3,000. It included his notebooks; pictures, letters; copies of his best-selling book on the war Don’t Cry For Me Sgt Major and other mementoes, including his field binoculars and combat knife with leather sheath.

Details of the sale are still on the Spink website, along with a wonderful mini biography of Bob by his wife Pauline, from his early journalistic beginnings working for a news agency in Grimsby and on through his national newspaper career to the big stories, the Troubles in Ireland; British Embassy Siege; the capture of Ronnie Biggs and many more.

What a wonderful glass-case collection these would have made in the front reception of the Express if the paper had one now. Today, I don’t think the paper could even afford a glass case. Or even be interested. Heartbreaking. Only successive chairmen and top management have benefitted from the loyalty and love of the Express from people like Bob, who risked his life for his belief in it.

But then that is another story … chairmen particularly in my view, never understood what the paper meant to the journalists. It was a living, breathing thing they loved, and they gave their lives to it. Many learned a hard lesson from Them Upstairs.   

21st July, 2023