Wendy

My lovely Dad. You’ve given me some wonderful memories that I’ll treasure, always. Some of my earliest memories from when I was a little girl, are you drying my hair after my Sunday bath, helping you to sweep up the grass cuttings when you mowed the lawn, picking blackberries and you trying to teach me how to dance by me standing on your feet. You also taught me how to play some card games; Mum thought they’d be too difficult but I managed to win quite a lot of them! Sunday mornings often meant you taking Jane and I out in the car as we’d head to Great Bentley to pay for the newspapers and you’d buy us some sweets and sometimes some stickers for my latest Panini sticker album! I’ll always be grateful for all the lovely holidays we had when I was growing up. As you were a car mechanic, we had quite a few different cars and I still can’t believe we travelled as a family of 4 to Cornwall in our red Mini which got a puncture on the way there as well as the rain coming in through the floor! I also loved your Bedford van (even though we broke down on our way home from Scotland), and I remember feeling really excited riding out in it for the first time. We saw a lot of the UK on our holidays and I’m amazed and grateful how you did all the driving which must have been really tiring. Our camping holidays were brilliant and you and Uncle Dave always made everyone laugh. When I started work, I remember I often used to call the garage where you worked, to ask for a lift home if I’d missed my bus. You drove me about a lot in my teenage years and twenties, especially to and from airports for my holidays and when I returned from backpacking in Australia. I still have those letters you wrote me when I was in Australia by the way. You also helped keep my cars in good order by servicing them and fixing any problems I had and rescuing me a couple of times when I’d broken down; how lucky I was! When I owned my own home, you were there for me again, fixing any little things in the house. It was when I lived in that house, that you gave me your computer - being a ‘silver surfer’, you’d built a new one for yourself your tech skills were definitely ahead of mine at that point! You always did like building things! You were a proud Dad when I married Richard and were a doting Grandad to Ellen and Lucy. You were also a huge help for us when they were new-born babies, just by doing practical things like the washing up. Before the girls started school, I will always treasure the times that you and Mum came over for lunch on a Wednesday; you’d bring over some goodies from the bakery and then you and I would take the girls to the playground. I wish I could live those memories again. Ellen and Lucy were very lucky to have you as their Grandad (not forgetting the pocket money from you)! In later years, I hope I managed to re-pay you for some the lifts you gave me when I was younger. You were such an active man, didn’t like to sit still for long and always wanting to keep busy, I was amazed at how you built yourself a new shed just 6 months after having your triple heart bypass! Thank you Dad, I miss you. xxx

Richard

So many memories of a lovely father-in-law. Leaving a big hole in so many lives. Jokes, beers and funny stories aplenty. Great times to be remembered forever. Cheers Alan 🍻

£25.00 (+ £6.25 Gift Aid)

Craig Whipps

Please see my memory I’ve already left .

£20.00 (+ £5.00 Gift Aid)