My beautiful father at the age of 89 made his journey from life to death on Friday 7th September 2018 surrounded by his family. He was a man who always said he didn’t want a fuss but he was secretly happy when we did for his birthday or Christmas.

He took the scripture that there is life and death in the power of the tongue by never saying a bad word about anyone (no matter how much they deserved it). He chose to give life through encouragement and positivity – rather than the easy route of mocking or condemning anybody or anything slightly different.

In his last days he was in excruciating pain but he could still make me laugh through a facial expression or a reaction to a green concoction that I blended to force him to eat some vegetables.

I loved him so much, his treatment of others from a baby to his peers was unique, it was hard to be angry in his presence because he was always so calm.

When he died their was an overwhelming outpouring of grief not just from family but from his neighbours, church, community and friends. One former Sunday school student said her happiest times were spent in the church van, Sunday school and youth club surrounded by positive forward looking people. A friend said he was always a true gentleman.

Dad used to say ‘it is appointed to man once to die and after that the judgement.’ Well I think people will judge him as a good man; a man who tried under difficult circumstances to remain faithful to GOD.