Dad
We have thought hard about the best way for us to remember Dad.
Each of us here will have their own stories, memories and tales, and these will always keep the memory of Dad alive with each of you every time one of them is passed on or retold.
I am not going to share endless stories with you, what i'd like to share is what we feel he has left, his legacy,his eulogy.
So here it is.
Dad, in simple terms , was a simple man.
By simple we mean he kept his life uncluttered with the burdens a lot of us carry, he obviously went through the same heartaches and high and lows that life throws at you, but did so with a genuine steadfastness and with a level of dignity that we all should admire.
We never saw Dad falter, never saw him cry and never heard him complain about the losses he personally endured.
Dad always looked for the best in people, would see their good points before their bad and never had the time or energy to bear a grudge.
You would never hear Dad bad mouth anyone, never hear him gossip, even his enemies he would defend as best he could, Dad would always offer a handshake or a pint to anyone.
Dad always had something positive to say to someone who needed it, a seemingly useless but reassuring nugget said in passing, only later did you realise or appreciate its true value.
These skills, and they were skills, were honed over years, Dad knew his hand and played his cards perfectly throughout his life.
The only thing we would like to slot in is that they say behind every great man their has to be a great woman, and that was certainly true in Dad's case.
We would love to think that Dad will be remembered forever, a glass raised in the club each year on his birthday for example, but that is a bit selfish and unrealistic we know.
So the family will carry on, the Club will cary on, life will carry on, however today there will be one less ember to keep the fires burning
So what we ask, is for us all here today to take away one thing and remember Dad by that, it may be dont speak bad of people,or dont bear a grudge, even one of his stories, but maybe, most importantly is dont leave it until it is too late to have the skills and experience of those closest to us passed on
That is the best way we can think of to remeber Dad
We Love you Pops