My dad

I just wanted to record that my dad, Ralph, would have been 100 years old today. I find that a little hard to believe - and quite honestly I'm glad he didn't live that long! He was a lovely, truly gentle, man but in his later years he had Parkinson's Disease, which progressively diminished his quality of life. He died in 2002 aged 76. The photo above, one of my favourites, was taken on his 70th birthday. The one below was in 1947, shortly after he and my mum started dating, when he was 22 and doing National Service. I don't seem to have any photos of him on his own and that, I think, is in itself significant. He was truly a devoted family man and loved nothing better than to be with my mother, my sister and me, and among his wider family and friends. 

He trained as a telephone engineer, a career he pursued all of his working life, from apprenticeship to being in charge of a telephone exchange and, towards the end of his career, a specialist troubleshooter trusted with sorting out the most complicated faults and problems. He retired just as digital technology was coming in, something for which I think he was thankful as I don't think he'd have enjoyed having to start to learn new systems. 

As a father, he was loving and generous, even if not terribly demonstrative. He was pretty soft-hearted too. It was usually my mother who enforced the boundaries. I've many good memories of him, especially the times he and I shared together, just us. (Gentle reminder to dads to make sure to have some one-to-one time with your daughters!) He drove me up and down the country to various interviews at various universities before I left home, and made sure we did some exploring and enjoying of whatever city we were in. He had a great sense of humour and used to make us laugh by reciting 'Albert and the Lion' and other such funny monologues, as well as having the usual repertoire of 'dad' jokes. He was aspirational for us and worked hard all his life to provide us with security and a comfortable life. When my daughter was born he proved himself a fantastic grandpa: patient, kind and thoughtful and a wonderful support.  

It's easy, isn't it, to take one's parents for granted? I count myself very fortunate to have had a loving, stable and responsible father, whose love for me I never doubted because it never wavered.

Happy 100th birthday, dad!