Thought For The Day – Friday 25th September 2026
Forget Them Not
On Monday evening, Sir Geoff Hurst M.B.E., pictured above, the last surviving (in this life) member of the iconic “Boys of 1966” will speak at “South Mill Arts Centre” in Bishop’s Stortford. Thank you to “South Mill Arts Centre” for all the outstanding work they do in the community. This will be a great opportunity for the public to see, and hear from, a national hero and legend.
Famously, 60 years ago on the 30th of July 1966, Sir Geoff Hurst scored a hattrick as England beat the then West Germany to win the Men’s Football World Cup for the one, and still only, time.
In his life, where he has carried this unique sporting history with great humility, integrity, and respect, Sir Geoff, like The Bishop’s Stortford High School in our non-uniform day of last summer term, has raised awareness, and money, for “Alzheimer’s Society”, which supports people with Dementia. Many of the 1966 England World Cup team suffered from this condition. Sir Geoff Hurst has used his platform to shine a light on this important area.
In June 2026, for example, Sir Geoff Hurst, as part of the showing of the now colourised 1966 Final in full by “Channel 4 Television” (the match is still available to watch on their website), talked about this very important cause. The broadcast featured an interview between Sir Geoff and a mascot of that day, Adron O’Connor, who, now suffering from Dementia, cannot remember the historic occasion he was mascot for.
Monday was World Alzheimer’s Day. The 2026 theme for this day was: “The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters.” The theme spoke to the importance of health care, knowledge, solidarity, and support.
Dementia is caused by underlying brain conditions, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for the majority of cases. Over short, and long, periods of time, Dementia impacts behaviour, communication, memory, mood, and sleep. It causes very significant challenges, and changes, for people and families. It is a life-limiting and terminal illness.
The “Forget-Me-Not” (Myosotis) flower, characterised by a beautiful azure-blue blossom with a contrasting white and yellow centres, pictured above, is the symbol used to represent remembrance, awareness, and support for people affected by Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It symbolises hope and beauty.
Today, Interact will be selling cookies (thank you to Mr. Cooper, as always) for a Dementia charity called “Playlist For Life”. This charity, which we raised money for last October, uses music to support sufferers from Dementia.
Over the Summer, respected author, broadcaster, and journalist, Jon Snow, who visited The Bishop’s Stortford High School on two memorable occasions in our history, shared his experience of Dementia, whilst also being called out of retirement to report on an environmental disaster in Zambia, in his outstanding and moving “Channel 4” programme “A Last Big Story”.
As we make memories in our lives, treasuring, and looking after, the memories of others on our journeys, we support others whose memory, and memories, are experiencing severe challenges.
We support all who are helping, as well as experiencing such challenges, in: the family; the community; health and social care.
What loved ones have meant, and continue to mean, to others will always, always be remembered.
We forget them not.
