Emotional Home Park Reunion

HOME Park hosts two very special guests at Saturday’s game with Portsmouth – former Pilgrim Aiden Maher and Plymouth nightclub manager Leanne Goddard.

The last time the two met was in 1977, but they share an extraordinary and exceptional bond.

For ex-winger Aiden, who made 70 appearances for us between 1968-70, saved Leanne’s life when she was a baby, 36 years ago.

In August 1977, Aiden plunged into the River Tamar to rescue 15-month-old Leanne when the pram she was in ran down the slipway of the Torpoint Ferry, turned upside down, and started to sink only yards from the incoming ferry.

 
Along with Police Constable Brian Weeks and two other men, Aiden selflessly dived into the water, grabbed the pram and pulled it out.

Leanne had stopped breathing but was successfully resuscitated by PC Weeks and made a complete recovery.

She is now in charge of Plymouth’s Oceana nightspot – she was recently named Regional General Manager of the Year by its Luminar operating group – and has never met Aiden since her near-death ordeal...until today.

Leanne said: “It is the meet of a lifetime – I have never spoken to Aiden and I am going to be meeting the man who saved my life as a baby.”

“I’ve never seen Leanne since the day,” confirmed Aiden, who now lives in Portsmouth. “After [the rescue], I just walked home, dripping wet.

“I have always thought that it would be lovely to meet the girl. What happened is something that is always there, in the back of your mind.

“It will be amazing and I know it will be quite emotional.”