07/10/2026
On the night of 3 June 2017, Roy Larner was enjoying a quiet pint in Borough Market. Minutes later, he would be standing between three terrorists and a room full of terrified people.
Shortly before 10pm, the attackers drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge, then ran into Borough Market armed with long knives. They kicked through the door of the Black & Blue restaurant, where Roy, a 47 year old Millwall fan from Peckham, was drinking.
Roy later admitted that, in hindsight, he should have run. He didn't. With customers panicking and children in the restaurant behind him, he took a few steps towards the attackers and roared, "F*** you, I'm Millwall!"
Completely unarmed, he took on all three. He threw stools and glasses and fought them with his bare fists while everyone else fled to the back of the room. He was stabbed and slashed eight times, suffering wounds to his head, neck, chest and hands, as well as a punctured lung.
Police officers rushed him to St Thomas' Hospital, where he arrived in a critical condition and underwent several operations. Armed police s*ot the three attackers d*ad. Eight innocent people lost their lives that night and 48 more were injured.
He was dubbed the "Lion of London Bridge", and more than 23,000 people signed a petition calling for him to receive the George Cross. In May 2024, the Royal Humane Society awarded him its Silver Medal, one of Britain's oldest bravery awards.
The scars of that night stayed with him long after the wounds healed. But when it mattered most, an ordinary bloke from South London stood his ground.
Never forget the courage of ordinary people.