... are lots of unknown people.

Last night I went to do a funeral visit for a lady in her mid 80's, sister of one of my church folk.  I had never met her, but if like her older sister, she would have stood about 4'8" in three inch heels, wiry and with a wonderful smile.

Her family knew little about her history, she had lived a very quiet, largely private life but during WWII she had her brush with the great and powerful whilst serving in the WAF.  She served alongside Guy Gibson, and reportedly made his tea; she was on duty the night of first dambuster raid and on the night he failed to return.

I have very mixed feelings about the dambuster raids, especially given the level of civilian death and suffering they caused (something that also affected Barnes Wallis who, seemingly, had not anticipated this consequence), but is good to be reminded that behind all these powerful people are ordinary folk who make tea or push model planes around maps. 

I recall reading somewhere that it was the 'little people' who made Hitler's work possible simply by doing their jobs.  There is, in some bizarre way, power in powerlessness, for good or ill.

I'm sure this lady made a decent cuppa, brought joy to those who knew her and in her small, unsung way made others great.