My mother used to say that my dad said that the happiest day of his life was the day I was born. He always made me feel that I was very important to him and he used to call me his “Jenny Wren”. He always had time for Sarah and I.
We used to walk to Sherwood library every Saturday morning without fail, my dad, my sister and me. It was quite a walk for small children and to make the time pass he used to tell us stories which he would make up on the spot whilst we were walking.
We were always encouraged to read and there was always music in the house. Playing the piano, or on the radio or stereo, there were often visitors who wanted accompaniment for their singing or solo instruments.
He used to walk everywhere, he did have a bicycle which eventually dropped to bits but never learned to drive although I believe he did ride a motorbike during the war. When my mum decided to learn and get a car he was never interested in driving it, but it had to be large enough to fit the double bass in.
I never saw him write when I was small, I guess it was something he did after we had gone to bed, but once he retired, he had his study upstairs and used to go up daily and stay there most of the morning. He used to say that it was good to have an upstairs room as it made sure he got some exercise.
He loved sport, particularly cricket and rugby and every year we went to the High Pavement cricket tea. He played into his forties and then used to umpire. He spent hours watching the test match much to the bewilderment of the rest of the family. He was a great dancer and loved jazz.
I’m not sure how he would have felt about today, he was never one for any fuss and would play down any achievements or awards but I am very proud of my father, he was multi- talented but also a kind, decent human being.