How can i say goodbye to my Dad? A man only we kids knew. All of we kids knew a different man. So intelligent, so not. Taught me so many things, how to love words,to spell them,to read everything I got my hands on. Don't know him? I do.

  Went  to war-but didn't want to; he was leaving everyone he loved-his family.Do you know him? I do. Bred canaries in a huge aviary in our garden. Brought a sandwich from his night shift (in print  when working at Stanhope Press) We always said it was fine but it tasted of ink! Taught Beryl "Mary had a little lamb" That lamb had a sooty foot! Do you know him? We do,Beryl and I

Well then -how can I say goodbye to my Dad? I don't know but I'll try. So will Dai.

My Grandad

We weren't really close until I think I was about 27 yrs old and became married and you were a star on my wedding day.  Then when things went awry when I was 28, you became my friend.  I was in Newcastle airport & you were there right by ny side yet 300 miles away...

This was the point when I realised you weren't an old Man but someone who understood me and who was there to hold my hand.  Not many people know about this.  But for me, this is the most precious point of our relationship.  It will stay in my heart forever and one of the most special memories I will have at the front of my heart.

I've listened to your stories as a printer, your gripes about family and your trysts with other people.  These life stories have held my attenton every step of the way.  I remember me & Tuc taking you in the car places, and you telling us your life stories and which were to me, very interesting. 

Remember especially when you burnt your hand, me & Tuc weren't bessie mates and we went to vist you with Beryl & Terry - seeing you strive on brought me & Tuc closer together..but I kept experiencing dizzy spells the whole time to later discover I was pregnant with Kai !!!

I hope to God I livetil y our age, do you realise you've lived til your hundredth year????!!!!

Seeing you in hospital recently was had at first but the last day I seen you, you were brutally hones and frank but very lovely to me.  You told me you just wanted empathy, not pity and didn't like being told that you should eat this or that and all you wanted was for people to come and ask you how you were, not why they were entering the room.  Ater running around the hospital to get you some toast and chees, that you'd especially requested, you ate it like I'd given you the most gormet meal on the finest platter..

You told me I had wisdom and after asking my age, even tho You initially thought I was a nurse on duty (in my bonny coloured halter neck dress) told me I'd made more sense than anyone had!!!  I will hang onto that phrase til the day I die Grandad.  Sorry family !

My final memory is you telling me you love me & Me, You...

You smiling and waving me out of the door - I can't get better than that Grandad - and that memory will stay in my heart forever <3

I hope I have shown you the love and care that you deserve as a special GrandParent  or actually, my only Grandparent, deserves.  I wish I could have shown or given more.  But I think our relationship from my 27yrs til your final days, has been a beautiful one.

I'm thankful and proud to have a Grandad as feisty as you - even if you have caused a few ripples along the way.. you are my heritage and it feels good that you've been part of my life.

So this song, by Frank Sinatra, MY WAY.... is officially Grandad Lukes song and every single time I'll listen to this I will either laugh or cry, and be thinking of only you.

I really hope you're in peace now, I mean really in peace!  And no more suffering.  I wanted you to live forever but realise that was never gonna happen!  I miss you already and bet you're missing me ;-)

Love you Grandad, and please please watch over me - I hope you will be at complete peace xxx Lots and lots of love and special hugs, Tracy xxx

To an amazing Grandad who never failed to make me smile with all your stories and little tricks (pulling your thumb off and making 50p's appear from behind my ear) I will never forget you and how special you were and always will be to me. I will keep Harry safe in my bed as I always have since you gave him to me. I miss you so much already and i'm so sorry I didnt come and see you one last time, I just wanted to remember your happy face. I love you always, thank you for being so amazing. Sarah xxxx