Today is my dad’s anniversary, he died very suddenly of a heart attack 25 years ago today, and I miss every single day.
He was just sat in the chair waiting to take mum shopping. I will never forget the Police telephoning me to say that dad had died of a fatal heart attack, the shock was immense, the pain of loss unbearable, no preceding illness, just gone in a flash.
He was such a fun loving man, so very popular, loved by many, and I was daddy’s girl.
He was also a very brave man. He joined the RAF before WW11, he was a Warrant Office Navigator. During the War, his aeroplane was shot down over Germany. He spent 4 years as a POW in both Stalag Luft 111 and Colditz, because in his words ‘they kept mislaying me’!! He rarely spoke of these times, he believed life was for living today, and for the future, and not in the past.
My last memory of him was of the evening before he died. I had called in for a cuppa and a chat. Dad had been sailing that day, his absolute passion, he liked nothing better than sailing his boat from Wales to the Devon coast, and his absolute favourite was a trip over to France.
That day he had been out racing, and very proudly showed me the cup he had won. He was so animated telling me about every leg of the race. He looked tanned and so very healthy, and happy. He had so much more to live for and enjoy.
I am so very relieved that he hasn’t had to witness the ravages of AD on his other girl, my mum.
Thanks for listening, I just needed to share how much I love and miss my dad.
I’m going to dry my tears, and go the Church soon to put some flowers on his grave, and to have a chat. I can hear him say now, 'good grief Cate, flowers, much prefer a bottle of Scotch'. Will have one for you tonight dad. Sleep tight.
Cate
He was just sat in the chair waiting to take mum shopping. I will never forget the Police telephoning me to say that dad had died of a fatal heart attack, the shock was immense, the pain of loss unbearable, no preceding illness, just gone in a flash.
He was such a fun loving man, so very popular, loved by many, and I was daddy’s girl.
He was also a very brave man. He joined the RAF before WW11, he was a Warrant Office Navigator. During the War, his aeroplane was shot down over Germany. He spent 4 years as a POW in both Stalag Luft 111 and Colditz, because in his words ‘they kept mislaying me’!! He rarely spoke of these times, he believed life was for living today, and for the future, and not in the past.
My last memory of him was of the evening before he died. I had called in for a cuppa and a chat. Dad had been sailing that day, his absolute passion, he liked nothing better than sailing his boat from Wales to the Devon coast, and his absolute favourite was a trip over to France.
That day he had been out racing, and very proudly showed me the cup he had won. He was so animated telling me about every leg of the race. He looked tanned and so very healthy, and happy. He had so much more to live for and enjoy.
I am so very relieved that he hasn’t had to witness the ravages of AD on his other girl, my mum.
Thanks for listening, I just needed to share how much I love and miss my dad.
I’m going to dry my tears, and go the Church soon to put some flowers on his grave, and to have a chat. I can hear him say now, 'good grief Cate, flowers, much prefer a bottle of Scotch'. Will have one for you tonight dad. Sleep tight.
Cate