After seeing that his family were safely installed in a lifeboat this brave man climbed the rope back to ship and filled a vacuum flask with hot milk. He then returned to the lifeboat and gave this to his wife and children. Again he climbed the rope back to the ship and almost certain death. I can picture him smiling at his family and telling them he would be fine to spare their fears for his safety. This story comes to light recently as the vacuum flask mentioned above was auctioned at Sotheby's after being in family for many generations.



How proud that family must have been to have such a wonderful ancestor, a man who facing almost certain death still put aside his own needs to do this last act of kindness for his family.

This is an extreme situation and of course none of us want to lose our male partners in such tragic circumstances. Our aim is to share long and happy lives with them.

However this story does bring to mind the legions of men throughout the world who selflessly put their partners and children's needs before their own.

They are the men who work long hours in fields or factories or burn the midnight oil studying to do the best for their partners and families. They are the men who get up in the night to care for a crying baby because it's only fair they do their share of parenting too. They are the men who listen to their partner's concerns about work or family even when they haven't had the best of days themselves. These are wonderful,special men.

We often hear in the media about the cheats and "love rats" about the violent and abusive men we need to avoid. Most of us would feel that it would be unwise to trust a complete stranger of either sex.We need to get to know people and use our judgement in interacting with them.

The really great news is this that most men in common with most women are decent, honest people who can make kind, caring partners. What's more these males who I would describe as "everyday heroes" for want of a better phrase greatly outnumber the cheats and abusers. So ladies, if you haven't found your hero yet keep looking. Even if like me you've made some unfortunate choices in the past you can still find your hero as I have found mine.