My lovely father, Big Bob, died a year ago today aged 91. He was a remarkable man in many ways most notable of which was a keen sense of humour. All of us 4 boys inherited it and it is a wonderful gift to pass on to your children. Just as well he passed something on as he achieved his life’s goal which was to die owing your children money!
He was the eldest of 4 children and was brought up in a modest police house in Westminster. His father was a PC in Vine Street police station and excelled himself with 20 years service without promotion. Dad was an exceptional student and won a scholarship to Westminster School where he excelled in both the arts and science.
University was not an option financially so he successfully studied for his BSc and PhD in Bio Chemistry part time. By the time he had completed his PhD he had 4 small boys to support.
During the war he was sentenced to 2 years in prison for refusing to be conscripted into the armed force and he served 8 months before an appeal saw him released.
We emigrated to New Zealand in 1953, Australia in 1956, New Zealand again in 1957 and back to Australia in 1959 where we all (except me) stayed becoming naturalised Australians. He never lost his love of Westminster and we placed half his ashes in the Thames opposite Big Ben.
He was always singing and remembered the words of every song and poem he heard. He was fluent in French and Latin and was one of the few people who could still speak old English.
At his 80th birthday party I confessed that when I used to get cross with him as a child I would wee on his tooth brush in retribution. He thought we might be onto something as he still had all his own teeth.
He loved my mother deeply and they were married just short of 70 years. She died 2 weeks after him which says it all. I am certain they are both up there pulling strings for me. I love and miss them both.
Jon; x
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Dear Jon
ReplyDeletemy thoughts, love and hugs are with you even more today. I can hear Bob's voice and see Vera laughing - she was such a great side-kick.
xx Janie
Sending good vibes for you today,
ReplyDeleteLove ya,
Frances and Skip xoxox
What a wonderful tribute to your dear Dad Jon, I know that you are missing them both still - well that's something that never goes away - but how proud they would be of you and the family with the way you have tackled the current situation - that sense of humour was certainly put to the test! It's great that you have so many happy memories of such a special man and yes I'm sure your Mum and Dad are up there pulling a few strings for you!!
ReplyDeleteTake great care
Fondest love xxx
Your dad sounded wonderful, what a life and a great one at that for all of you. I am having a bit of a sniffy moment, the humour is definitely key to recovery amongst other things of course.
ReplyDeleteLove to you all the Smiles xxx
He could also recite the entire list of ingredients of HP Sauce from memory. And, correct me if I'm wrong Dad, but I think he was able to do it in French too. It's a skill that the youth of today seem to have neglected.
ReplyDeleteHe could also make his thumb disappear for us when we were kids.
I think there's more of his genes scattered throughout our family than there were in him in the first place so Big Bob is still very much around and will be forever.