Yobs snap cross, damage wreaths and leave bottles at memorial crash site in Sheffield park
It is not the first time the memorial has been vandalised
A memorial to American airmen who crashed in a Sheffield park has been vandalised.
The Mi Amigo memorial in Endcliffe Park was discovered damaged yesterday.
A cross had been snapped, wreaths had been damaged and there were bottles strewn at the site, which is tended to by Sheffield pensioner Tony Foulds, who was in the park on the day the plane crashed on February 22, 1944.
He was among a group of schoolchildren who witnessed the American bomber crash after its engines failed.
Tony beloved by people across Sheffield and beyond for his dedication to maintaining the Mi Amigo bomber crash memorial.
And in 2019 a spectacular flypast, broadcast on national TV, was organised to mark the 75th anniversary of the crash, in which all 10 crew on board the B-17 Flying Fortress died.
TV star Dan Walker made the flypast happen after meeting Tony in the park and learning how he had dedicated his life to looking after the memorial.
The pair have become firm friends over the years, and this weekend Dan shared on social media how the memorial had been vandalised.
He explained that two men had helped Tony tidy up the memorial.
Posting on Facebook, Dan said: “Just wanted to say ‘thank you’ to the two fellas who helped Tony clean up the memorial today (Saturday).
“He was very upset because it was covered in bottles and mess this morning. The cross has been snapped at the bottom and a few of the wreaths have been broken too.”
His followers shared their thoughts on the vandalism attack.
Elaine Macdonald wrote: “That's made me cry thinking of Tony arriving to the memorial garden and finding it like that. What a shock that must of been for him.
“Never in a month of Sunday's will I wrap my head around why someone would do vandalism like this. Thank you to the men who helped Tony put things right. Sending hugs to Tony and those men.”
Karen Thacker added: “I'm pleased someone helped Tony but will never understand the mentality of the people who do damage for no reason. Respect is becoming more rare each day. I hope someone can repair the cross and that Tony is ok.”
Marie Holt added: “Poor Tony. There are always people like Tony who show honour of this world. You have touched the heart of millions let not give these others air space as they say.
“Sending hugs to you both and thanks for the men that helped Tony. There is still kindness in the world.”
Val Hill added: “What a world we live in nowadays. Tony has done his level best for years and he must have been heartbroken to see the damage to the memorial.
“We just have to say a big thank you to Tony, the two men who helped him and yourself, for letting us all know.”
In March 2021 the memorial was badly damaged when an estimated 7,000 people descended on the park on the hottest day of the year so far.
In another attack later that year plant pots were smashed and flags ripped.
In 2019, heartless vandals defaced the memorial with obscene images, just days after the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
Tony was honoured in 2019 with a star on the Sheffield Legends Walk of Fame outside the town hall.