A pensioner has finally cleared his conscience 56 years after committing a crime with his friends back in the 1960s – he issued an apology and said there was ‘no excuse’
A former mischievous teen has finally come clean, over half a century after committing a cheeky theft. RNLI crew members in Trearddur Bay were left gobsmacked when an unexpected parcel arrived, containing an item that had been missing for 56 years.
The mysterious box held the RNLI flag that once waved proudly atop the lifeboat station’s flagpole. Alongside it was a £20 donation and a confession letter, apologising for the antics of three young lads who’d caused mischief while camping on Holy Island.
Penned by an individual now residing in Wirral – whose identity remains undisclosed to save their embarrassment – the letter revealed the flag’s fate. Now around 73 and in their twilight years, the guilty party stumbled upon the long-lost flag during a tidy-up.
Addressing the RNLI volunteers, the repentant thief wrote: “In 1969 me and two friends where camping up the road from you. One night on the way back to the tent we passed your station and flagpole, one of us climbed up the pole and took the flag! Wrong of us. We were only 17 at the time, but that’s no excuse!
“Just found the flag again, forgot all about it, I was having a sort out and there it was, after all these years. Hope it gets back to you. Very sorry,” reports North Wales Live.
Station personnel couldn’t help but be amused upon reading the letter earlier this month. The still-intact flag was put back in its rightful place, raised high once again atop the station’s flagpole.
The station crew expressed their amusement online, along with photos. They revealed that the letter was well-received, considering it a genuine, albeit overdue, apology.
A spokesperson said: “To the culprits if you see this – all is forgiven and we won’t name names. Thank you for your kind donation and for making us smile this morning!”
The confessional letter won the hearts of social media users as well, evoking a string of chuckles and nostalgic recollections. Followers found the account both endearing and amusing, lauding the idea that there is “honour amongst thieves” and that it’s “never too late to own up”.
A delighted user posted: “That’s the most British thing I’ve seen in ages, love that!” A woman from Cheshire continued: “Just shows how people change over the years…..love it!” Quoting the adage, another man quipped: “There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.”
Some commenters recounted their own experiences, feeling pangs of long-forgotten guilt over past youthful escapades. “Aww bless them,” chimed an Anglesey woman.
“I often used to wake up next to a traffic cone. The things we do when we’re drunk!”
The RNLI flag has a rich history dating back to 1884 when Leonora Preston designed it as a token of appreciation for the rescue of her brother two years prior in Ramsgate, Kent. She incorporated the St George’s cross into the design and added a dark blue border.
A Tudor crown and a foul anchor were positioned at its centre. By 1908, it was officially recognised as the RNLI’s flag.
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