As dad often said “we never imagined we would live the life that we did”.
Although an “only” child he was never lonely. Those close childhood friendships lasted throughout his life.
Dad met the love of his life, our mum, on a seaside holiday. They married at 21 and then they worked by day and dad studied at night to gain his missed school examinations and later his accountancy qualifications. At weekends he managed to play sports, probably the second passion of his life – he was an all rounder as well as being a bridge player, a good snooker player and a lover of theatre, music, cinema, reading, politics – a man who could talk to anyone about anything. He had an easy and natural charm.
He was a brilliant father – although once I became a teenager I was critical of his parenting skills. Too late to apologise now for that and more
He was a remarkable son who supported his parents, financially and in their old age, physically with daily visits. They relied on him to navigate their lives and he did.
He was blessed to be a grandfather to four grandchildren who adored him and who gave him immense pleasure and then a great grandfather. Not many great grandfathers are able to play on the floor with their great grandson or babysit for him. Dad did, alongside mum, and that boy still talks about “grandpa jops” (his nickname – it’s a long story).
Dad taught us how to live, how to give, about love and loyalty and duty. Dad, a boy who came from poverty, was able to help his parents, raise and support a family, pay his bills by return and “never owe a penny”, give to charity and his time in volunteering. His was a life lived fully and beautifully. Dad.
