My Dad
I found this difficult to write not only because of emotion but how can I say all I want to say about my lovely Dad in such a short space of time.
I look back on my childhood with such happy memories.We did so much together as a family.I loved our holidays in Cornwall and in the rain in the Lake District.Whatever we did,Dad made it fun.Dad worked so hard to make sure we were happy and had everything we needed.
Dad would always fight our corner.I remember Dad having to go down my secondary school nearly every week to see the Head of 6th form as I never went to PE,choosing instead to be picked up early from school by Beths Dad.I always felt I could do anything and Dad would be there to sort things out.
Dad was over the moon when he became a Grandad for the first time nearly 22 years ago.This is when the tradition of Dad reading A Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve started and carried on as the number of grandchildren grew.Beth and I lived with Mum and Dad until Beth was 4 and then moved to our own place but Beth would go for sleepovers a couple of times a week with Nanny and Grandad as she had such a special relationship with them.Poor Dad had to put up with watching back to back episodes of Topsy and Tim or whatever series Beth had a craze on that week!
Mum and Dad took Beth on holiday,just the 3 of them,every year until recently and I know Beth has some fantastic memories of all the places she has been with her Grandad and the fun times they had.
I worked for Dad firstly at Universal Office Supplies and then when he started his own business,Eco Ink. Although we got on each others nerves at times,I really enjoyed working with him and I got to spend so much time with him.He could never do enough for his customers and would go out of his way to help them.Testimony to this is one of Dads customers actually came to visit Dad a couple of times at the hospice which was totally unexpected.
Dad first became ill in 2009 but seemed to over come that until of course recently when he fell ill again.Not once did I hear my Dad complain or ask “why me?”.The meaning our of surname Sharp is “While I have breath I have hope” and that was Dad to the very end.He never gave up and was always positive,still finding time to have a joke with the nurses at the hospital.
As I said at the beginning,I have so many memories of Dad.Dad cooking his amazing roast dinners and Chinese meals,Dad and his legendary BBQ’s,Dad knowing the answer to anything and everything on quiz shows,Dad refusing to read the instructions when trying to put together flatpack furniture and then insisting there were pieces missing,Dad and his beautiful hanging baskets and garden,Dad being the first one up dancing at parties(although the memory of Dad dancing at Beths 18th to Beyonces Single Ladies is one I try to forget!!).
It is clear to see today how loved by everyone Dad was,not just by us,his family,but all his friends,mine and my sisters friends,and also his grandchildrens friends.I couldn’t be prouder that he was my Dad.I could always come to you for advice and you never judged or said I told you so.I wish we had longer together but I am so thankful for all the time we did have together.I will miss seeing you in your chair at home with a glass of red wine,a bag of crisps and the remote in your hand,moaning about how rubbish all the TV programmes are!I will miss you blowing your nose in your horrible handkerchiefs,I will miss speaking to you everyday on the phone.I will miss you more than words can say.
Before I finish,I would just like to read a couple of quotes from a calender I bought Dad at Christmas.
“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person;he believed in me.”
“All the best memories I have,have you at their core.”
“Take my hand” said Dad.”See-you can do it.”And I could.
He was a kind gentle man,my refuge whenever anything went wrong.He made me feel that I was very special.
Finally,these words say it all.

My Dad,my hero,the legend.