Memories - Our Reading at Dads funeral.

MARK
Richard our Dad was born in 1943 and grew up as a Salisbury lad, with his sister Fran.

VINCE
He lived in the prefabs on Devizes road in his younger years.
We remember him telling us about the Bomber Plane that crashed into Bemerton Heath in 1952 taking out some houses as it came down.

MARK
He had many jobs in his life and one of these was a bouncer… for Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mitch and Titch.
If you’re too young to remember have a look on Google!

He also worked as a Coach Builder and I remember him saying that he had to paint them all by hand, none of the automatic painting like now-a-days…

VINCE
He married Cindy our Mum in 1976 and they spent their Honey Moon in Benidorm Spain.

They loved this place so much ended up going back another 4 times in the coming years!

During this time, he worked at RAF Old Sarum as an Electrician.
Little did I know that later in my life I would also Qualify as an electrician in 2001, following in my Dads footsteps.

In 1979 I was born! (Vince)

In 1980 when I was only 1 he was taken sick and had to take medical retirement after 23 years’ service at old Sarum, but those that know my Dad this didn’t get him down.

After taking some time out he applied for a more desk based job which got him into a suit….

He started working at the Old George Mall Shopping Centre as the Centre Manager.

MARK
In 1983 I was born! (Mark)

I wasn’t an easy coming, Mum was in Hospital for 4 months which meant Dad had to do all the house work and cooking.

Mum had taught him well! Although Vince does remember a lot of takeaways…

Dad couldn’t stay away from the sun and in and 1985 he took us all back to Spain for a family holiday.

As kids we had no Internet, Mobiles or even colour TV! So we had to find other things to do.

Dad loved his camping and we spent most of the summer holidays in Devon, Dawlish Warren.

I always wanted to spend most of the holiday on the beach, come rain or shine. Mum & Dad word be shivering with cold but I would be there digging holes and building castles.


VINCE
As we got older and started to help around the house one thing always comes to mind… and that’s TEA and lots of it.
Approx 1 cup an hour! Yes, Dad loved his cup of TEA.

Even though we must have made him 1000’s of cups, I remember that phase he would say when we asked:
Want a cup a tea Dad?
Yes please, make sure its strong, two sugars and little milk.
Never missing a chance to let us know how he liked it. J

MARK
Then came the food, he loved his food but just like his TEA this had to be cooked just right, and if it wasn’t Mum cooking he would always make sure we were given our instructions….
Make sure its burnt for me…. Well done…. Do you want rice or chips??? Ummm ill have both…. Could I have extra Potato….

VINCE
Dad could put his hand to anything, no task was ever too big or small for him.
I don’t think we ever came home and he hadn’t done something to the house or a friend’s house…
Of course Mum often didn’t notice anything different....
Dad would have to point this out….

MARK
As Vince said Dad could put his hand to anything and one summer we purchased a BSA Bantam Motor Bike… In approx. 500 bits…

I helped restore this which later in life got me into Motorbikes and to my job now as a Vehicle Technician.

Mum never like me riding the motorbike but Dad did… He just said don’t tell your Mum HeHe… it reminded him of his younger years…

In 2008 Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s again this didn’t stop him and made him more determined to do things and get on with his life.

By now we had moved away from Home but still loved the family holidays…. Of course, it was us taking Mum & Dad away now.

In July 2012 Dad was a very proud man as he witnessed me marry my lovely wife Lorna in our very own castle… Not one which I had made on the beach!

VINCE
Of course, we had to take them back to Benidorm again which they loved so much, and we repeated this again a couple of years later.

Dad and Mum were getting into this travelling business… visiting Belgium, Edinburgh, Wales and we even got Dad on his longest flight 4hrs to Lanzarote!

In 2016 we had the shocking news that Dad had Cancer and it was bad, he went through several operations and Chemo.

For the first time this had made him house bound which was a struggle for someone who was always outside or doing his DIY!

MARK
Early 2016 Sprout came along, of course she is now officially known as Baby Emily! Who you can all meet later.

Dad lived every day for Emily his smile would shine and brighten up any room when she visited him.


VINCE
I expect the tears will be flowing now so we will end our little story here, Dads words to me, make this a Jolly Day!

VINCE & MARK
Anyone for TEA?