My Dad, my hero, so strong, clever & witty. Always ready to listen & help & full of wonderful stories. Here are a few that I remember;

As a boy growing up in Chatham, Kent, Dad often used to go scrumping in the local orchards with his friends & he told of many a time scrambling over a fence just in time with an angry landowner hot on his heels.

His entrepreneurial spirit shone at a young age & he set up his first ‘business’ collecting kindling wood & selling it house to house to earn pocket money.

When he & Mum bought our amazing childhood home, Hadham House, we were always warm & snuggly in front of the huge roaring log fire in the lounge that Dad built. Ming, the Burmese cat, would lay right in front of the fire until he was too hot to touch.

Dad loved his bonfires in the garden & I remember one day at Hadham House when his spectacular bonfire got sonewhat out of control & set fire to a very tall pine tree right by the neighbours fence & trees. I seem to remember some rich language being exchanged that day.

We had an incredible vegetable garden at Hadham House & one year Dad had grown so many strawberries that it seemed like Mum was permanently stood at the Aga making jam. When Dad was poorly & reminded of this he laughed & said ‘Yes, Jam’.

We also had a large greenhouse & being green fingered Dad helped me to plant & grow Busy Lizzies when I was about 7 years old. I ended up with so many that Dad encouraged me to go & sell some to the local general store in Canford Cliffs which I did & I made some good pocket money in the process. 

Our wonderful lake, Vereley, in the New Forest. It was like an amazing Swallows & Amazons upbringing (until we were teenagers & became interested in other pursuits). Learning to whittle sticks, shooting at targets, learning to row & building dams in the stream & sitting under the giant Gunnera leaves when it rained. I remember Mum & Dad doing endless clearing & logging too & all of their hard work paid off as it was a beautiful place when it was finished. Dad used to let us sit on the Range Rover tailgate & bounce across the fields on the way to the lake. I used to look forward to that.

The surprise 50th birthday party we held for him at Chapel Gate, Hurn. I think he knew something was going on but when we walked him in to the bar & all of his family & friends were there shouting ‘Surprise’ he was horrified & tried to escape as he wasn’t a big fan of celebrating his birthday. Once we had got him back in the room he really enjoyed himself & as it was a laser clay shooting party he got to show off his shooting skills.

Having great nights out at David Lloyds, Bournemouth where despite many objections he would eventually be dragged up on to the dance floor to jig about (usually by Sue.S). The staff there, who we knew well & got on with, would look exasperated but not surprised when Dad would start yet another food fight with another table by throwing bread rolls which resulted in everyone joining in & much hilarity. He always was the life & soul of the party.

On the way to my wedding, me & Dad sitting in the back of the beautiful wedding car together. When we were nearing Athelhampton House my butterflies kicked in & Dad took hold of my hand & said ‘It’s going to be ok’. He looked so proud when he walked me up the aisle. I will treasure those memories forever.

I have been so lucky to have such a loving, kind & generous Dad who was always there for me. Everything he has taught me will live on in me & my children.

I love you Dad. I’m glad you’re not suffering anymore & can be at peace. I will never forget every wonderful minute I had with you. The children & I will look up to the skies to see you. We know you will always be the brightest star.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx