I heard, then unheard
Cloth eared denial
Darkness observed
Survivors survival
Yet not
Gone, pillar, my rock
No last minute revival
Denied the grace
A final touch
A last embrace
Looking over photos
Smiles, your familiar face
Denied the bugle call
Denied the salute
As the final flag falls
Not for me the moment
To cry for you my Dad
Not for me the touch of wood
Longing to bring you back
To place you where I should
So I sob. Dark wracked tears
Trying to suppress my anger
Crying through our years
For to me, the best dad
I could ever have seen
God hold you my father
God hold you Royal Marine

Per mare, per terram

Our family and many of Dads friends were not notified of his death nor were we informed of his funeral.

This cannot take away from us the joy of all the moments we shared. Dad was a constant companion in both my life (for over 60 years) and in the lives of his grandchildren despite every attempt to stop him.

2024 kicked off in the VIP directors box at Exeter Chiefs, Dad came as our guest and we had a wonderful day as the guests of the owners and team.

We saw each other constantly through the year, attending functions together, meeting up and always our time was spent swopping stories and telling jokes.

I last spoke to Dad just before he passed away and his text to me was he was in great shape. He will be so missed, both as a wonderful father and grandfather but also as my best friend. He proved to me repeatedly that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.

God hold you Dad, until we meet again

love Andrew