WHILE world leaders celebrated the life of Nelson Mandela, one Vale couple paid their own respects to the former South African president and anti-apartheid revolutionary. Andy and Eileen Jinks, of Village Street, Harvington, lowered the South African flag to half mast in front of their home in memory of the late Mr Mandela, when the news was announced that he had died last Thursday. Mr Jinks said he thought it was important for the village to remember such a great and important man. “We have friends in South Africa and we have been a couple of times,” he said. “Nelson Mandela was probably one of the people I most respect and I thought it was appropriate in Harvington that we show our respect.

I have had a lot of people saying they thought it was an appropriate thing to fly the flag at half mast.”

Picture taken by Paul Jackson. 5013474001.