The last few weeks have been filled with sadness and tears at your passing. A loving father, grandfather and role model. To me he was a man of few words, not one to gossip or idle chat but full of intelligence, compassion and humility. I admire the KIND of father he was to us, he loved us all very much. He instilled in us the core values that defined who HE was. A man who kept promises and honoured commitment. He was a man of integrity, honest, respectful, hardworking, he engendered strong morals and a way of behaving that gently guided you. Never coarse, vulgar or rude a true gentleman in every sense.
Strong and dependable, you could go to him with a problem or dilemma and he would willingly give advice without the fuss or drama. He never suggested the ‘easy’ way, only the ‘right way’ to deal with a problem.
To my eldest children he was their positive male role model for many years and gave my son, in particular, opportunities that he may not have had. Building cardboard tanks in the garden but obviously with precision and accuracy, nautical museums, steam fairs and other engineering delights. For my daughter
a man in her life who was always dependable and although often serious was kind and caring and how a man should be. For that kindness and compassion I thank you dad. For my youngest daughter who sadly did not get much time to be with grandad and who does not yet understand the situation Grandad is apparently in Heaven, washing up, being best friends with uncle Rick and reading the paper.
I know that dad brought far more joy to all of us than any sadness and as time goes by he will not be forgotten but remembered by us all with immense love.