Arnhem Veterans' Shield
The Arnhem Veterans' Shield
The Arnhem Veterans' Shield was first awarded in the late 1990s by Jack Looker, a much-loved lollipop man at Bidston Avenue Primary School and a proud veteran of the Battle of Arnhem. Jack was part of daily life for countless families in our community, greeting children with kindness and keeping them safe at the school gates. He passed away in 2003, but his legacy remains a cherished part of school life.
Jack’s family have continued to present the shield in his honour. His daughter Carole carried on the tradition for many years, accompanied by his nephew, Damian Looker. When Carole passed away, Damian made a promise to continue the award for as long as it was needed.
Damian has become a close friend of the school, generously and quietly supporting our charitable efforts, particularly in helping children experience international travel to China.
Jack Looker – A Life of Courage, Community and Quiet Strength
Jack Looker served in the British Army as a paratrooper in the Border Regiment, part of the Airborne Division. In September 1944, during the daring Operation Market Garden, he was among the 12,000 Allied troops who parachuted into Arnhem, in the Netherlands. It became one of the fiercest and most tragic battles of the Second World War, with only around 3,000 troops making it back. Jack was captured after enduring several days of intense combat.
Remarkably, he survived nine days in the woods ,with the remnants of his unit, carrying shrapnel wounds to his back and legs, before being found and taken to a hospital in Apeldoorn, in the Province of Gelderland. Once recovered, he was transferred to the prisoner of war camp Stalag IX-B, where he remained until the war ended.
During this time, Jack was listed as ‘Missing in Action’ with his family left in the dark, fearing the worst. When he finally returned home, he was met with an extraordinary surprise: he was now a father to twins, born while he was in captivity. He had married during a brief period of leave before the battle, never knowing he would leave behind a growing family.
Jack’s bravery in war was matched by the quiet dignity with which he lived his life. He was a strong swimmer, an accomplished runner, and an all-round athlete, but above all, he was known as a kind and humble man. The Looker family later learned that his regiment had been chosen to lead the Arnhem landings due to their elite skills and discipline.
Jack also had a deep love for sport, especially football. A devoted Evertonian, he was proud to have seen ’Birkenhead’s finest’, Dixie Dean, play for both Tranmere Rovers and Everton... a memory he treasured.
He was a twin himself, and sadly his sister died of tuberculosis, which was a common tragedy of the time. She, along with Jack’s mother and other family members, is buried in Flaybrick Cemetery (now Flaybrick Memorial Gardens). It seems fitting that Jack’s final working years were spent looking after the children and families of Bidston Avenue Primary School. He was just a stone’s throw from the resting place of his twin and mother.
Adding further colour to Jack’s remarkable story are some notable family connections. On his father’s side, he was cousins with Ross MacManus, an English musician and trumpet player and the writer and vocalist for the R Whites Lemonade advert - secret lemonade drinker!. Ross was also the father of singer Elvis Costello. On his mother’s side, he was also cousins with actress Patricia Routledge, known to millions as Hyacinth Bucket.
Jack Looker’s story is woven into the fabric of our school and our wider community. His courage, humility and love for life continue to inspire the children and families of Bidston Avenue to this day.
A Lasting Legacy
The Arnhem Shield is awarded annually to a pupil, or pupils, who embodies the qualities of courage, resilience, loyalty, self-discipline and quiet leadership, values that Jack stood for in his life. Traditionally, the award is presented near Remembrance Day. However, in 2025, in honour of the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the shield was awarded in May.
Damian Looker continues to present the award, now on the second shield as the first has been filled. He is occasionally joined by other members of the Looker family, including Isabelle and Edward... a beautiful reminder of the generational ties between our school and Jack’s story.
We are honoured to continue this tradition, and to help our pupils understand the deep significance of remembrance, service, and gratitude. The Arnhem Veteran’s Shield is not only a tribute to Jack, but a symbol of the values we hope to instil in every child at Bidston Avenue.
The Arnhem Veterans' Shield - Roll Call of Winners
2024-25. Violet Brady & Maisie McAllister
2023-24. Alfie McGree
2022-23. Isobel Edwards
2021-22. Harry Halpin
2018-19. Zoe Patrick
2017-18. Olivia Smith
2016-17. Mia Higgins
2015-16. Max Farrell
2013-14. Ellie Price
2012-13. Charlie Diable
2011-12. Emily McNiffe
2010-11. Callum Crosby
2009-10. Blake Brown
2008-09. Chanice Branscombe
2007-08. Lennox Upton
2006-07. Chloe Lythgoe
2004-05. Leanne Smith
2003-04. Sarah Jones
2002-03. James Lyon
2001-02. Lonya Burns
2000-01. Josh Heywood
1999-2000. Lauren Halstead
1998-99. Elizabeth Edwards