D-Day veteran was awarded highest French distinction medal
GORDON Mucklow sadly passed away recently aged 98 and was a very active member in the Stratford community, regarded by some as a true Stratfordian born some 100 yards from Shakespeare’s birthplace in Henley Street.
Son to a grocer - Joe Mucklow - who managed the local Walkers Stores group and was himself a survivor of the horrors on the battlefields of Ypres in 1917.
His uncle – Charles - being not so lucky as was noted on the war memorial monument in Old Town.
Gordon’s father – Joe - went on to set up his own grocery store opposite the Shakespeare Hotel in Church Street (now Montpelier Gallery) during the last war.
With history repeating itself somewhat, Gordon fought in World War Two, landing on Gold Beach six days after D-Day and was part of General Montgomery’s battle group the 43rd Wessex. He is noted by historians as playing a major part in the battle for Hill 112 - crucial in the push to take Caen and beak-out of Normandy.
Gordon attended commemorations to salute the many that died on Hill 112 and as recently as 2019 was greeted by HRH The Duke of Wessex Prince Edward at the memorial. Prince Edward was known to Gordon mainly as one of the few survivors but also being behind the purchase of a battle tank which now forms a lasting memorial to those fallen and erected at the site.
In 2016, Gordon was awarded the Legion D’honneur for his role in the D-Day landings during the liberation of France - it is the country's highest distinction medal.
Lance Corporal Gordon Mucklow was badly wounded in a later battle with a Tiger tank and was taken back to Glasgow Infirmary where he underwent crucial surgery resulting from shrapnel wounding.
Back in Stratford he then met his future wife Freda Baker, daughter of Fred (beadle and town crier) Laura Baker who were custodians of Stratford’s Town Hall. In fact, during a fire in the town hall just after the war, Gordon was badly burnt trying to save the priceless Gainsborough – Garrick - painting.
Later, Gordon and Freda acquired an old motor bicycle shop on the Evesham Road and converted this into a grocery store. After some modernisation the shop was converted to self-service and was believed to be the first independently run store to be self-service in the West Midlands. Gordon passionately believed in selling local produce and was noted as one of the first stores to keep foods fresh using cling film.
Gordon has served on both town and district councils and made the office of deputy mayor of the town council twice.
He was involved in the planning of both northern and southern relief roads around Stratford to minimize traffic congestion through the historic town centre.
Being passionate about his hometown he was also chairman of Stratford’s Britain-in-Bloom entry, achieving national finalist status. He also became chairman of Stratford’s Chamber of Trade and represented the town in trips to Spain and Canada. He was also a governor of Stratford High school for boys - formally Sir Hugh Clopton School.
During retirement, Gordon and Freda set up and ran a coffee shop for 15 years at the hospital with proceeds donated to the hospice and other worthy causes.
He is survived by his only son Robert and grandsons Daniel and Tom
