The loss of my beautiful and loving Father.

After my great success in Xterra race in Sardinia last last week, (1st age group and ETU euro cross Champ.) I returned to the news that my Dad had deteriorated in health and was now very frail. I rushed to his side as soon as I could following  my Mum to Yorkshire (who was away with me for a break in Sardinia.)

I was shocked and horrified at how much he had changed in a matter of days, he didn’t look like my lovely strong and coherently intelligent Dad. He was just skin and bone and could hardly talk. This was the most distressing situation I have ever had to face..

The Doctors said he had Pneumonia and that he was responding well to the treatment and should be out of hospital in a few weeks, they were very positive. So we all went home pleased that he was in such good hands.

That night I was awoken by the door bell at 2 am with the sad news. 

 Then it was sorting everything out with hospital, registrars, town hall, solicitors etc etc non stop until we were exhausted. 

 My dog Toby  still looks up everytime someone walks in hoping it is my dad, how do you tell a dog he is not coming back, it’s heartbreaking.

I hope to stay strong and remember him in my dreams, he was the most loving, selfless and unjudgemental man. A true gemtleman in everyway. He was never seen without his suit and tie, polished shoes and walking stick. Always had a fantastic sense of humour and always a kind word for everyone. Yes he had his moments later on, cantankerous is what he could be  but  how many 80 year olds aren’t.

I thought I might share with you the words I had spoken at my Dad’s funeral on the 16th June 2009 in Holy Trintiy Church. Ripon. North Yorkshire.

Didi, Braino, Supersonic, Maestro
These were the names that he loved and knew
Suit, Coat, Scarf and polished shoes
He dressed so smart he knew what to do!
With his tat for tat and faithful doggy
he walked for miles even when foggy
Always so smart and polite to others
Children, adults old and young mothers
A scholar, intellectual, his Chaucer was best
Spitfires in the war he flew with great jest
Under bridges, swooping and turning he flew
the poor old Germans they didn’t have a clue
For this was my Daddy his strength I have too
There was no stopping him of that they all knew
With his dear friend ‘pipe’and a beer in his hand
He was as happy as Larry or a boy in a band
He reached to many with his idiosyncratic ways
With ditties and quotes of Shakespeare to Dickens in May
He was charming and generous and considerate to many
he will continue his work, but without spending a penny!
Lets hope he will now be with his scholarly chums
Up there in heaven with Churchill, Johnson, Mozart and Donne
Of course not forgetting his ultimate lark
His one, his only, his pinnacle Bach
So all who are here please join in a stand
This a final farewell to a man who was GRAND

I will miss him terribly.