Jack Hemmings AFC, Wings of Hope Tribute Fund

We couldn’t have asked for a better Grandpa.  Grandpa Jack was a man of boundless energy, joy and love who filled every moment he could with adventure.  Whether hurtling down hills with us on a toboggan, whisking us off to France in his aeroplane for lunch with friends, or building a magnificent treehouse in his 80s perched nonchalantly on a 12 foot ladder with a hammer in hand.  His vitality and passion for life inspired us deeply.  So much so that, when asked in school to write about our hero, rather than choosing a footballer or pop star – all three of us wrote about Grandpa Jack.  Our childhood was filled with magical moments in the garden, eyes to the sky, scanning the sky to spot him doing aerobatics in his plane.  We stood on the trampoline holding handmade signs, hoping he would spot us as he soared overhead.  These are the memories we will forever cherish and share with generations to come.  Every time we see a little plane in the sky, we will think of him and proudly tell the legend of our remarkable Grandpa Jack.

William, Beatrice and Olivia Hemmings