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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 522

An Order of St John group of seven awarded to Sick Berth Attendant A. Heywood, Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve - who latterly found fame in the cult Heinz soup television advert

The Most Venerable Order of St John, Serving Brother's Badge, silver and enamel; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve Long Service, G.VI.R. (6931 A. Heywood. S.B.A. R.N.A.S.B.R.); St John Service Medal, with 3 Additional Service Bars (35533 Pte. A. Heywood. Cheshire. S.J.A.B. 1947.), mounted court-style as worn, first with a little enamel chipping, very fine (7)

Serving Brother Order of St John London Gazette 19 February 1958.

Alfred Haywood was better known by his stage name, Johnny Maxfield. He was awarded his Sick Berth Reserve Long Service Medal on 18 May 1945 and perhaps the best summary of his career was offered up his death by the Macclesfield Express:

HEINZ Soup-er granddad Johnny Maxfield - the King of TV cult commercials - has died. The silver-haired actor, immortalised over three decades as the kindly face in the soup ad which warmed the hearts of the nation, slipped away peacefully in his sleep five minutes before noon last Tuesday.

Macclesfield will mourn its famous son who suffered a massive heart attack - the last of a series which went back as far as 1972. He was 71.

His devoted wife, Brenda, and his younger son, David, were at his bedside at Wythenshawe Hospital's coronary care unit. It was a tragic end to what had been a wonderful weekend for former train driver Johnny who spent Saturday with Cheddleton's Steam enthusiasts and Sunday at the local model railway club.
The veteran actor, who had frequently appeared on almost every top soap, had only recently turned down a part in Coronation Street due to failing eyesight.

He 'almost' appeared in the movie blockbuster Yanks starring Richard Gere... his part was edited out. But it was an anecdote he loved telling.

Johnny was taken ill on the Sunday night, transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital from Macclesfield, and had undergone keyhole surgery throughout the night to repair an aneurysm. He recovered sufficiently to be transferred onto a main ward but sadly his condition took a turn for the worst. "After a number of heart attacks over many years he has always bounced back," said Brenda. "Only this time he didn't.
"We will all miss him so much. He was a truly wonderful man."

Johnny - a homegrown celebrity whose real name was Heywood and who never really accepted his superstar status - was arguably one of Britain's most famous faces of the Seventies and Eighties when he hit the small screen as Heinz soup's granddad.

He, along with young actor Adam Sunderland who played his grandson, captured the imagination of the nation with their touching closeness.'

Sold together with a selection of Cheshire St John Ambulance Badges and buttons, St John Badge (2), with Re-Examination awards from 1940-1962 and 1940-1960, London, Midland & Scottish Railway Long Service Badge, with 3 additional service Bars, Boys Brigade Lifesaving Medal, a section of wood from H.M.H.S. Amarapoora and original papers related to his service.

For his miniature dress Medals, please see Lot 625.


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Sold for
£230

Starting price
£220