My Dad was born in the Northern town of Burnley in Lancashire, England in 1928, he met my mum when he was 15 and married her in 1950. After serving in the army as an engineer he trained as a toolmaker and French polisher amongst other trades. He soon found that he was a dab hand at most crafts, and trades like joinery and metal work. In 1958 after trying unsuccessfully for a child of their own and after being told my mum would never have children they adopted my older sister Linda, however in 1960 mum got pregnant and gave birth to my sister Janet. After trying hard for another child I popped along in 1963 by caesarean. We all had a very happy family upbringing, something I will always be grateful to my parents for. We were a very typical family with loving, hard working parents. My dad's job for most of his life was a toolmaker at a local firm Thomas Ashworths who made die cast components, my Mum securing a management job at the local Odeon cinema. We had a typical, happy family life in our home on Scott Park road in Burnley. My dad became ill in 1992 when he was diagnosed with kidney failure; he had dialysis for a year and then had a transplant in 1993. For ten years everything was fine, his kidney worked well and he had a virtually healthy life until 2002 when he became increasingly poorly, he was taken into Preston hospital for tests in November of that year. On the morning of Monday the 2nd of December 2002 he collapsed next to his hospital bed at the Royal preston Hospital and shortly after passed away. The post-Mortem found that he died from Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma which is a cancer of the lymph glands, his immune system was unable to protect him because it was supressed by the drugs he was on to stop him rejecting the kidney. That day was one of the worst days of my life and one that I will never forget. I will always miss my dad and will always be grateful to him for being the best dad a son could ever wish for. He was cremated on the 13th of December 2002 and had his ashes scattered in the local river he played in as a child in Townley Park and at Burnley Cemetery under a fern tree, he has a plaque here also. This is the eulogy I wrote for his funeral.There are no words to describe the pain we are all going through with the loss of our Dad but there are many to describe the joy and love we all new through him,he was a giant of a man in personality, warmth, generosity, wisdom and knowledge,a mischievous whit and sense of humour, a genius craftsman and fixer of everything. Jack was a true great man who would make friends with everyone he met, and broke all our hearts when he left us. But he left a legacy that we can all look to. We can still feel his presence, his warmth and his love all around usand this will give us comfort for the difficult future ahead. Jack was a wonderful Dad, Granddad, Great Granddad and husband who has left a huge gaping hole in all our lives and will be bitterly missed. We are all going to have to struggle on together now without you. But we will meet again in a place where we don't ever have to say goodbye, but not yet Dad.........Not yet, Your Son Graham. On June 17th 2007 I visited his plaque at the cemetery, whilst I was standing there, reading the inscription, I became aware the it went very quiet around me, then I saw my Dad out of the corner of my eye standing to my left at the end of the path watching me, then a great "surge" of joy went through me, like an electric shock, taking my breath away. I believe that his soul passed through me that day. I know that my Dad was there with me letting me know that he is ok. I cried afterwards when I realised what had just happened, it has not happened since. Thanks for letting me know you are ok Dad.
Visited again on June 17th 2009 and a bird was singing so loud, then a tree dropped all it's rain on me, thanks Dad I knew it was you again :-) I took my grandaughter, Lucy Rose, born to Sarah in October 2009 to see you the other day she says "hi Great grandad" I'm sure she sees him watching her, she sometimes stares at nothing for so long, I think my Dad is watching over her and she sees him.
It is with great sadness that we send Mum to you, she died on 3rd June 2010 peacfully in hospital and is now with you forever Dad. I am beside myself with grief