AC words for Dad’s funeral service: ‘As you get older you find that true happiness is not in how much money you earn, how many degrees you have, how big your house or how fancy your car is. It’s finding peace and joy, and a calmness in your life that become the most important things to you. Your family is what truly matters; LOVE is all that matters. These are things that are of quality, not quantity’ And that was at the core of Dad’s life – he was devoted to his work, to his family and to his football. He didn’t particularly care about money or possessions. He was caring, compassionate, driven, sometimes infuriating and stubborn, but always trying to do what he believed was right for those in his care, in his schools and for those of us lucky enough to have his love at home (his wife, sons and then his grandchildren subsequently). To paraphrase something I wrote last year (but sadly his ongoing deterioration meant that he never read it): “Nick and I thank our parents, our loving mum and dad from the bottom of our hearts for giving such a secure, loving and stable upbringing. This has given us so much strength to cope with the bad hands that Fate has sometimes dealt, and enabled us to strive through life……. I’ve reflected a lot on the wise words he spoke decades earlier (and I don’t mean here his classic ‘it’s just a phase’ comment to cover teenage angst and so much else!). He told me that maybe the bad things that happen to us in life were for a reason, so that we might one day pass on any wisdom we gain to help others. And that was so typical of him. Such wise prophetic words indeed, old fella – Dads always know best! “ Finally, I think this quote is very fitting to sum up Dad’s life, at work, at home and in all he did: You weren’t created to stand on the sidelines and just get by. You were created to get in the game, to make every moment count and to leave your mark in this world’ …. And before the Parkinson’s so cruelly robbed this very proud man of his vitality, he certainly did that. GOD BLESS HIM Rest in Peace with Chris now, Dad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSwL9deXNW8