I had the best childhood, as a had a big kid for a dad. A daft dad, a loving dad who would hold your hand in his inside his pocket on a cold winters day, take you swimming in the sea even if it was cold, wake you up rudely in the morning because if he was up you were up! There were great big sneezes that terrified the many kittens the first time they heard it! Even bigger hugs and sloppy kisses. Our house rang with mom tell him! Get off! Put me down! Daaad stop it!!! He was the biggest wind up merchant ever just ask mom she threw a saucepan at his head, never dare him – he would do it! ask James – dad smashed an egg on his head when he said he wouldn’t dare. Mom said I leant the drop dead look as a baby as he grabbed my nighty by the hem and pulled me down the bed going weeee. Reading the cards our family has received, these words come up time and time again – kind, big heart, warmth, smiles, laughter, generous spirit, larger than life, a gentleman, sorely missed, friend of the highest calibre. I’m proud he was my dad; he taught me to be a better person. xxx Elly