Auction Catalogue

29 March 2000

Starting at 12:00 PM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Regus Conference Centre  12 St James Square  London  SW1Y 4RB

Lot

№ 203

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29 March 2000

Hammer Price:
£75

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (Successful), (John Gardiner, 23rd July 1964) complete with ribbon buckle, extremely fine £35-45

R.H.S. Bronze Medal, Case 69,542 ‘John Gardiner, aged 19, a labourer, witnessed Christine Hodgson, aged 22 jump from the centre of Westminster Bridge, London at 2:05am, 23 July 1964. Stripping to his trousers and socks, he dived down 25 feet head first from the bridge. He swam 25 yards to the woman who struggled with him, holding her until she became unconscious and continuing to support her until both were rescued by a police launch 130 yards from shore. In all, Gardiner was in the water for 15 minutes, swimming a distance of 325 yards.‘