When I think of my grandad I see him laughing, eyes twinkling telling a joke or singing
Recently I was lucky to be able to spend more time with him, to watch the way he was with Anna, the same songs, the same stories, the same lovely grandad
I can't believe we've lost you but I truly know your in a better place, with your love my Gram I know you are smiling and you are home.
So thankyou for being so wonderful for all the stories, jokes and tall tales.
We were so lucky to have you and heart broken to have lost you
Good night Grandad and be good
love you
Claire  (Gobby) as you called me xx


  

What can I say about a man I loved so much my dad the best dad in the world.
I have always been a daddy's girl and from the time I could walk he used to take me out on Sunday mornings while mum got the dinner ready.  He used to tell me all about when he was growing up with his brothers and sisters 14 of them altogether, and how it was first up best dressed, with string instead of shoe laces.  They had a huge house just off Thorp Road, it was a railway house, because his dad was a railway inspector.  The house still had bells to ring for the servants and there were that many kids that people thought it was an orphange, and on many occasions my grandad dragged someone else's child in the bath, kicking and screaming because he didn't realise he wasn't one of his.  My auntie Josie and Uncle John are here today and then can testify to this being a true story.
He met my mums brother Harry at that house and they became best mates and had lots of cycling adventures riding all over the country.  Many times going from Manchester to Blackpool which was easy for these two fit lads.  Then he started to take an interest in my mum his Bet, at first just kicking her teddy around to tease her and then when she was 14 and became ill with pneumonia he used to go and sit with her and that is where their relationship grew into love.
Mum at 14 and dad 19 exactly 5 years difference because their birthdays were on the same day 25th May.  That would be frowned on now but the 5 year age gap worked well for them.
When the 2nd world war came my dad got called up to serve his country and was enlisted in The Royal Engineers, building bridges, setting mines and building shelters and keeping the enemy at bay.  Dad had a scar from an abcess on his stomach wall, but he always used to tell anyone that was listening that Hitler had stabbed him with a bayonet and our Darren believed this until a few years ago, he was that convincing.
He came home on leave in 1945 and married mum and they had 53 years of happy married life, until she died with bowel cancer and fibrosis in 1998.
We were such a happy family mum, dad, Trevor and I and our dad was so committed to working hard to give us everything we needed and taking us on regular holidays to the Isle of Man, where his mum and dad had retired.  We all loved the Isle of Man especially my dad, quite a few of his siblings lived there.
He used to work with my Uncle Ernie who was his partner another master builder, Uncle John and Uncle Harry and nephews Tony and Kenny.  He loved his work and enjoyed teaching his nephews his trade.
I remember a funny incident when he was building our conservatory and he was about 80 when a plane flew overhead and he was looking at the plane with his beloved trowel in his hand and he fell backwards and ended up on his back with his trowel still in his hand.  I said to Alan leave him because if he died he will have gone off happy coz he was doing what he loved to do.  When no one took any notice he sat up and continued building the wall as if nothing had happened.
My children Lisa, Claire and Darren have enjoyed many holidays with Gram Betty and Grandy Albert going to far off places abroad, singing and chatting all the time, swimming, dancing and listening to all the stories that dad made up for them about insects and animals and fairies that talked and they lived at the bottom of the garden in Brooks Drive.  They love to remember about Slowcoach, Lucy Lamp post and Tinkerbell to name but a few.  These memories will never die and have been passed on to his 8 great grandchildren who he loved with a passion.
I really need to thank all the family for helping me look after dad especially Alan who always shared me with my dad.  Alan always supported me in looking after him and allowed me to spend some quality time with dad allowing us to go on holiday together thus building up many more amazing memories.  Thank you so much darling I am so blessed having you two amazing guys in my life who both loved me passionately.  Thank you as well to all his friends on Greystoke.  He loved to flirt with all the ladies there and will now be getting an ear bashing for that off his beloved Bet now.  To Ann and Sue and Margaret for all their time and love they poured out on him everyday and Uncle John who came out in all weathers to see him.  I will be eternally grateful and I know like me you will all miss his cheeky banter.
My dad was a passionate man which came out in all the poems he wrote  These poems expressed his love for his family in a far greater way than just saying I love you, because these poems are engraved in all of our hearts.
Dad and I have had many holidays in the last few years and we loved to laugh and swim and go on walks together but most of all we loved to dance together.  I was a poor substitute for my lovely mum and I know they will be dancing together again in Heaven.  The last years of his life he became a true man of faith who knew his maker and would pray for all his family.
He was a man of integrity, who always kept his promise and never had a bad word to say about anybody.
Dad your love, understanding, patience and wisdom and your amazing sense of humour will live on inside us forever, and Trevor and I thank God for having you and mum as our parents.  What more can children ask for than having amazing parents who loved them unconditionally.
So dad I want to thank you for always being there for me with your strong arms ready to pick me up when I fell down, for showing me the right way to live so I could bring my family up in a happy home by following the example that mum and you set.
You will be so dearly missed by your loving family and good friends
Rest in peace dad with mum until we meet again you were the greatest.
I love you xx
Love your devoted daughter
Linda xxxxx
 

This is the tribute I wrote & read at my grandads funeral........Grandad,I know u will be saying now dont be sad,think of all we had & did and keep smiling.
So I just want to thankyou for being the most amazing man.
Our relationship was so special.Ive been told that you said "I get Lisa & Lisa gets me"-not sure how to take that,but I know that we enjoyed each others company & had fun together.
I never sat on a chair at your flat-I always sat on the floor next to you & held your hand,its just something I have always done isnt it.We have shared so many fantastic times,too many to mention.I remember the night that I stayed with you to keep you company(cos Gram had to go in hospital overnight).we had a really lovely night together but you woke me up at 5am with a brew and a smile & i wasnt meant to be in work till 9.We would giggle about the boxing day party when you and Ade shared a bottle of whiskey & got a little merry.Us just eatting bacon butties together that I would get from Harrops after I had took the girls to school.You taught me the rules of snooker & us and Gram would watch it together.
Didnt we all always laugh.Just the other month you,mum,aimee & me were at the hospital laughing our heads off reading your Irish medical dictionary that you wrote.And even the night before you left us we were all laughing together about the many things that have happened over the years.You loved it when we recalled all our memories from our holidays etc..& sung our songs like "its a long way to Hotel Cruiser" & our favourite "Green grass is green grass".How many hours did we all spend listening to the tales of your life,the rhymes & the stories you wrote about us and our secret garden friends.We could all recite your poems & then when I began writing some aswell you were very proud.
I am so proud of having you as my grandad & am really happy that you enjoyed your 7 greatgrandchildren & that they were able to know,love & spend time with you.What a fantastic life you have had & now you are enjoying yourself with your lovely Bet.
I cant believe you have gone.I will miss your advice,your jokes(that we could all finish off for you),your sense of humour(right till the end),your love,the touch of your hand,your smile,your laugh-I will basically miss you.My Hero,My Grandad.My Friend xxxxxxx