Gilbert Clarke – a RAF veteran who now lives in Plaistow – got the chance to be a part of the 2025 fireworks display, with a clip of his voice used in the section marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
The 99-year-old spent the new year in Newham Hospital, recovering from a fall and fighting off pneumonia and the flu, but was still able to watch the show live with his family from the ward.
Gilbert’s son Alan Clarke said it was a “very special moment” that the family shared together.
Gilbert Clarke and his family watched the New Year’s Eve fireworks display live from Newham Hospital (Image: Alan Clarke) He told the Recorder: “Because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, we asked the hospital if it would be ok if certain members of the family came in [on New Year’s Eve].
“Newham Hospital were very kind and gracious enough to say yes.
“We were able to set up a laptop and connect to the wi-fi, and we watched it live as it was happening.”
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Three generations of the family were able to watch the show from the hospital, with Gilbert’s other children Raymond and Norma visiting from Cornwall and Essex.
Alan’s children Zak, 9, and Nathan, 12, also watched the show, as well as Alan’s wife Elvan.
The special moment “left Gilbert in high spirits”, said Elvan, and 12-year-old Nathan said he was “really pleased” his grandad was a “lot happier than when we arrived”.
A spokesperson for Barts Health NHS Trust said: “We are pleased to have been able to facilitate this special moment for Mr Clarke and his family at Newham Hospital on New Year’s Eve and wish him all the best for his recovery.”
Gilbert left Jamaica to volunteer for the RAF in 1943, lying about his age to join.
Speaking at an event to mark the unveiling of a Normandy memorial in 2021, Gilbert said he enlisted out of a “sense of duty” to fight for the country and ensure “we left the world a better place for everyone”.
Last year marked 80 years since D-Day, and the capital’s fireworks display commemorated this with a segment featuring red, blue and white fireworks, the song We’ll Meet Again by Dame Vera Lynn and Gilbert’s voice.
In his clip, taken from previous contributions to the BBC’s D-Day programmes, the veteran said: “I feel proud I did something for peace.”
Millions watched London’s fireworks to welcome 2025, and the full 12-minute display already has nearly four million views on YouTube.
The D-Day section starts just after the five-minute mark.
