A Sad Time

I lost my dear Dad on Saturday.  He was two weeks short of his 88th birthday and had been in poor health since breaking his hip several months ago.  He leaves Maureen, his second wife, and children: myself, Bill, Richard and Heidi and seven grandchildren.

He had a very interesting life.  He was a submariner in the Royal Navy during the war and saw action in the North Atlantic, Russia, North Africa and the Mediterranean.  He is second from right in the photo below.

After the war, he couldn't find work in Britain, so went to Canada and joined the Royal Canadian Airforce.  He was posted back to England where he met my Mum.  As children, we lived in Canada, Germany and England at different times.

He retired in his 40s and returned to England.  He spent many years sailing the Mediterranean with Maureen on their boat.  In later years, he preferred to go on cruises, rather than sail himself.  He was very fond of gardening and good company.  He enjoyed his life to the full.

He was a larger than life character and his passing leaves a huge hole in my heart.   There will never be another like him.