Memorial garden

Dear Dad,

My sisters-in-law gave us some garden vouchers so that we could plant something permanent in our garden in your memory. Isn’t that a lovely idea? So we went to Stapeley today and transformed this to that: (see the before and after photos). Peter worked so hard on it for me.

I wish you could have seen all the people at your funeral yesterday. Davina travelled all the way up from Farnham and Tim & Marianne from Winchester, Cousin Caroline and Chris all the way from Swansea ~ just for the day! Joyce Costello (very special to us because she led Mum to the Lord) and Joy Platt came from Mount Chapel. Your old friends from Streftord, Anni’s friends’ parents and even grandparents came. Little Jacob wanted to be there, because you were his mate. Did you have any idea how well loved you were?

Lily and Tom read the Bible readings and they did so beautifully. You would have been so proud of them. Joe hired a suit for you. He looked so handsome. And your brothers and sisters were there. I didn’t want Uncle Jimmy to leave because he looks so much like you now. Everybody could tell at a glance that he was your brother. I’ve promised to take the children to see them all again. Uncle Brian has phoned almost every day since you died. He says he’s going to phone me once a week from now on. They’ve all shed a lot of tears for you. They said looking at the photo of you on the front of the order of service was just like looking at your father.They told us lots of stories. I never knew that Aunty Janet was with you when you fell out of the tree that time when you were 10 and impaled yourself on the railings. (I used to ask you if that really hurt and you just said “Don’t know ~ I was unconscious.”) She got walloped for it because she was older and should have known better. She said Grandma used to wallop first and ask questions later and if she’d punished the wrong child she never said sorry, she just said “Well that’ll do for next time you’re naughty.”

Danny was amazing, as ever. Ted Watt said, “I can see why you come to this church.” They all heard the gospel, loud and clear, just as you would have wanted. Rob said lots of lovely things about you. Did you know he thinks you are the toughest guy he ever knew? You were so brave for so long, I don’t think we had any idea how much you suffered because you never complained. And do you know what? He marvels at your strong faith and told everyone how you love Jesus most of all.Everybody mentioned your awful jokes. But you know we loved them even so.

You’ll know by now that your dear friend, Graham died at your funeral. Isn’t that incredible? I guess you’ll be catching up together.

Love you loads. You were the best Dad a girl could ask for. Lol x