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Eulogy
As Read By Julie his daughter
Our Loving Memories of David.
As David's daughter, one of my earliest memories is of hearing my fathers laughter and howls of feigned outrage, making me laugh also ,as he lifts me up in the air and I grab hold of his luxurious mane of thick blond hair . My mum does readily admit it was his film star good looks that first grabbed her attention !
I will always remember early Sunday mornings in the flat in Lee Green sitting on his knee as he told me stories whilst we listened to his favourite Operas, La Boheme ,Madame Butterfly ,Turandot ,Tosca and Carmen and laughing at episodes of the Goon show on the Radiogram.
My father was never happier than when he was renovating his houses , and I will never forget one of my earliest jobs handing him his tools .One day whilst we lived in Bickley, Dad had the floorboards up in the living room as he was putting in the pipes for the central heating .We suddenly heard Mum's voice calling "Have you seen Nicholas?".Dads face was an absolute picture as we looked at each other and suddenly under the hole in the floor we saw a flash of greyish white . We looked further to see a little baby foot flash by disappearing parallel to a joist under the floor . Dad quickly retrieved a nappy clad Nicholas dusted him down and said quietly, "Don't tell your mother!"He preferred to be covered in a layer of dust and plaster or cement and could get his suit off fast enough when he got home from work to start another DIY project.
After that when posted to Montreal by Llloyds , come the memories of Dad disappearing into the snow to work, and at home time spending the hour digging himself and the car back in again much chagrined as he was a man who loved the sunshine. I think Nicholas and I will always remember our trips to Dairy Queen with Dad and the enormous Banana splits he would buy us as a special treat.
Our father was passionate about his English heritage and we all have very fond memories of our time in Kent visiting stately homes every Sunday we will have our own individual memories of times spent at Hever , Penshurst , Chartwell , Ightam and Knowle Park. One Sunday Dad had enormous fun watching to see who would win one particular banana sandwich .It was a close contest between Sheldon and a very determined young deer .It goes without saying Sheldon won much to Dad's amusement.
My mother and father enjoyed many happy times on another of my father's passions ,his beloved yacht Havfruen .They always returned looking relaxed and happy ,except for the time they nearly lost Dougal overboard of course . My mother will take with her many fond memories of their adventures together at Glasson Marina. Nicholas and Sheldon will no doubt have thier own memories of working along side thier father on his beloved boat.
My father was a man who loved animals . He visited Jesmond one day to rescue a little Yorshire Terrier about to die of hypothermia which he found lost tucked under the steps by the metro station . Most people would have walked on by thinking it wasn't their problem ,but not my Dad .He picked it up wrapped it in his overcoat brought it back to the flat and we were able to reunite it with its owner.I will never forget how he stood on the doorstep like an excited school boy saying "Look what I've found!" Even more so the look of pleasure when I bought him his very own Yorkie Dougal will be a lasting memory.
He was a man that many others will remember by his many acts of kindness, and for his extreme bravery and sheer determination to walk again after his unfortunate car accident.
He was a very clever talented and creative man often so ahead of his time with his notions and ideas. He spent many hours scribbling away mathematical equations in an effort to one day fall lucky with the national lottery. He loved his computers and gadgets as well . When I came home from ASDA really excited with my wind -up torch last week ,Charlotte looked at me and said without hesitation , "Oh Mum you are so your fathers daughter."
He loved his Grandchildren ,Charlotte and Sam ,who will always cherish his gentle teasing and bad jokes.They will each have their special memories of their grandad.
Our father was a man who loved literature and poetry and in many ways was a true romantic but never more so than with our mum. We all remember being told how they both met . One evening whilst attending the theatre with his friend Geoff , our father glanced across to room see a poster on the wall featuring an attractive young lady .He turned to his friend and said " I'm going to marry that girl ", and he did , the poster being of our mum .They met at a dance after that and the rest is history , with them sharing many happy years together. Yesterday would have been their 48th Wedding Anniversary .
He settled into family life and increasingly so once we all moved to Westgate - to the ultimate family home, which he loved so much. He spent much of his latter years in Westgate as he got older, but always with a project on the go at a time many people retire and take things easy . He was always busy and never liked to sit and do nothing. Westgate became his last home , a home where he made sure that friends were always welcome and many of you are here today all with your own fond memories and anecdotes no doubt which you will carry with you and hope you are able to share with each other later. His final evening he was tucked lovingly into bed, his classical music playing in the background.He looked up at Mum and said "You look lovely", a memory that comforts her now. He will be someone well remembered and much missed by all of us here today whether we be collegues , friends or family.
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