James 'Lofty' Christmas
Members and guests to the website will be saddened to be notified that James 'Lofty' Christmas has recently passed away. Just a few weeks ago Lofty joined Fermain V on the River Thames between HMS PRESIDENT and the House of Parliament whilst filming with Dan Snow for a forthcoming BBC 2 documentary. Lofty’s family advises that Lofty passed away peacefully after succumbing to C Difficile. Just last week we were planning for Lofty to attend the Commemorative Service in Dunkirk for the 70th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. With Lofty’s passing a targetable link between the Royal Navy and the Little Ships also passes.
Lofty and his courageous colleagues will remain with us in spirit during our forthcoming crossing.
Website Administration, 2nd May 2010
I was very sorry to read on your website about Lofty 'Crossing the Bar' - as a fellow Thurrock RNA Shipmate of Loft Christmas, I was shocked that I had to find out about the sad loss of Lofty from your site.
He should have had an RNA funeral, but none of our ex-RNA Members were aware of his death Our ex-RNA secretary, had a telephone coversation with Lofty a couple of days after his vist to London with Dan Snow.
Also, today there is an artical in the 'Best of British' magazine's, June issue, - a story that is not the true story of Loft's experience at Dunkirk on the Sea Scout's ex-Navy motor picket boat Minotaur. The young Sea Scouts did not take the Minotaur to Dunkirk. The Scout Master the boat's engineer, an adult Scout Leader, plus, the two RN Navy ratings did. Their names were not even mentioned - Lofty was one of the crew, the other RN rating, Alf, was later drowned in Dunkirk waters while saving the lifes others.
John Rush, Ex Committee Member Thurrock RNA.
I am sorry you had to find out about Lofty's passing on a website. We had heard after Charlie Mercer's funeral that the RNA Thurrock had disbanded which left us saddened that he would not get a fitting send off after such an amazing life. We did not know he still had contact with ex members of the RNA Thurrock. Anyway, we researched Navy funerals and did our best. I'm sure Lofty would have been looking down laughing at our efforts, but we are just settled now knowing he has been laid to rest with his wife of whom he missed greatly.
Thank you for helping to keep Lofty's experiences accurate, we will never forget him or his amazing stories!
Lofty's family
Just a thank you to yourself and this fine man and his wonderful story as part of the Little Ships documentary on BBC 2 this week .
My own dad , Joseph Dominic Sweeney gunner R A as part of the BEF . He had been lucky thanks to these wonderful men like lofty who played such a part in saving of 330.000 servicemen at DUNKIRK . Such tragic stories in that wonderful programme will always live with me .
My dad ended up on a train to lime street station in Liverpool , then sent on leave back to west London .
Sadly he went to Singapore in December 1941 and became a FAR EAST POW at the fall of Singapore in February 1942 until August 1945
Sadly died in December 1969
Again what a GREAT MAN LOFTY MUST HAVE BEEN .
Ed Sweeney
Canvey Island