在接到女王请柬的第二天,铁愚表哥奉父命将接受邀请的回函亲自送达英国驻沪总领事惠德孟(T. E. J. Mound)先生手中。而英国驻沪总领事又表达了想要面见表舅的愿望。其后,表哥便陪表舅履约回访英国领事馆官员,双方相谈甚欢。因表舅三年前手术失误导致双目失明,行动不便,考虑周到的英国领事在请柬上添加了表哥的名字,特许陪同前往。
10月15日晚七时许,英领馆文化领事和翻译专车去五原路接了铁明表舅父子,在皇家舰艇乐队的欢快迎宾曲中登船。二百多位来宾一踏上二层弦梯就排起长队,历经一个多小时,慢慢前行等待女王接见。女王和公爵在二楼大厅门前与每位来宾一一握手相迎,英国驻沪总领事-惠德孟(T. E. J. Mound)向女王依次介绍客人的身份。
这就是我外公家族中在1986年发生的英国女王和表舅家的传奇故事-- Her Majesty led them Going Home,今天之所以旧事重提,除了再次对英国女王献上特别的感谢外,更是希望没有经受过,已经忘记,或正在忘记,那些运动和苦难的人们能够读到这样真实的故事和历史,从而在中国这片土地上,再也不会发生那些‘运动’和我表舅表哥,还有千千万万中国老百姓所经历过的悲惨遭遇。请为中国和中国的人民献上祷告。
此文参考了铁愚表哥遗作,哲文表哥家谱修定文章以及家族晚辈们纪念文章而改写。这里一并鞠躬致谢了。
特别感动以下为美国著名黑人男低音歌唱家Paul Robeson 的留言,
From Glyn Wood: This is proof positive that a great man who experienced bad things at the hands of an ignorant society can love us all. He wrapped us in thrilling music and held his head up in a dignity that has not been recreated since his days on earth.?
Going Home - Paul Robeson
Going home, going home I am just going home Quiet like, some still day I am going home
It's not far, just close by Through an open door Work all done, care laid by Never fear no more
Mother's there expecting me Father's waiting too Lots of faces gathered there All the friends I knew
Home,Home,
I'm just going home
No more fear, no more pain No more stumbling by the way No more longing for the day Going to run no more
Morning star light the way Restless dreams all gone Shadows gone, break of day Real life…
Jascha Heifetz plays My Man's Gone Now (arr. Heifetz) - from "Porgy and Bess" - performed by Heifetz