Jolly good show OLD chaps

As a young pilot in the Second World War, Les Brown was used to coming under attack. And it seems that 60 years later, the veteran can still summon up his old fighting spirit.

For when an open-air concert for the elderly was targeted by yobs, he knew exactly how to respond. And as the thugs kicked footballs into the crowd, and drowned out the music with shouts of abuse, they soon realised they were messing with the wrong man.

The fearless veteran decided enough was enough, and joined forces with other pensioners in the audience to strike back at their aggressors. Buoyed by the brass band's stirring rendition of the theme from The Great Escape, they rose from their deck chairs, and with arms linked, advanced towards the 30-strong group of youths.
To the the music from the classic war film, the army of 20 pensioners, which included several veterans, shouted warnings and wielded walking sticks at the gang.

And in the face of such a united front, the youngsters grabbed their possessions - and made a hasty retreat. Yesterday Mr Brown, who served in Egypt defending the Suez Canal from aerial attacks by the Italians, told how he and his fellow pensioners had felt compelled to stand up and deal with the anti-social behaviour.

Mr Brown said: "We got so fed up with these little toe-rags, that some of us decided to stop them.

"The Great Escape music came on and I looked round and caught glimpses of other people, who were obviously thinking the same as me. The next thing I knew I was standing up and marching towards them along with lots of others.

"It felt like I was back in the war again, coming up against a fierce foe. But we were a determined lot. We might be old but these youngsters didn't stand a chance in hell."