Dad in his youth was very athletic and was a rugby player who played for Lancashire county and was chosen to play overseas for Great Britain. He declined to play for GB because my mum became pregnant with my eldest sister and he didn’t want to miss her birth.
Dad was very work proud and got his greatest pleasure in life by supporting his wife and kids. Although unfortunately he had an industrial injury with work, which then forced him to stop working, he was always adapting to his new lifestyle with courage. He never complained and continued to smile throughout his disadvantages with his health and we loved having him at home looking after us as kids, whilst mum worked.
Dad was a huge child at heart. He loved making us laugh and made sure all his girls had what they needed in life. His favourite holiday was Christmas and hosting the family gave him lots of joy. Dad was very proud of the home he had made with mum and loved and respected her like a queen she is. When Dad’s declining health and memory worsened, we knew deep down that it was dementia but we continued to hear his stories of his rugby playing days and family holidays in Newquay like it was the first time hearing them.
Dad was never aware of his vascular dementia and we ensured he lived in a safe, loving environment at home to keep him protected and to not to confuse or cause him any distress. Although we lost a lot of who Dad was through the dementia, we gained a whole new Dad who was equally if not more mischievous and loving than the Dad before. We were very fortunate to get this side of Dad, as we know how difficult it is for other families, we were blessed to at least have a chilled, care free, child like Dad who got pleasure from watching TV Gold and his grandchildren playing round his feet.
When Dad was then diagnosed with terminal throat cancer, we felt defeated. That on top of the dementia and building a new relationship with Dad with his dementia, we would then lose him to cancer. Unfortunately with Dad’s declining health because of his dementia, treatment wasn’t an option for him and he lost his aggressive fight with cancer/dementia in February.
It still doesn’t feel real that he’s gone. That day, weeks, months that have passed still seem like a blur and we haven’t really been ready to let go. We miss his smile, smell, laugh, warmth and just his presence. We’ve been lucky to have had Dad as a major presence in our life. Although the industrial work accident was horrible for Dad, selfishly we got to have him at home ever since and he was there for everything we achieved and more.
Dad was quite simply our hero! His strength, determination to overcome adversities in his life and to still have a smile on his face was inspiring. He will and will always be the bravest man I have ever met at it’s was a privilege to call him Dad
Born 01/12/1956 - 01/02/2023 (66yrs)
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