Remembering Dad
As a child I remember everyone used to ask Mum and Dad ‘how’s Clive?’ and how is ‘the naughty one?’ (me)
I inherited some of Dad’s DNA, his Dyslexia and his ability to be able to run. Winning the 100, 200 sprint and getting the baton at the District relay to bring the team from last place to first. Dad would proudly say that’s my boy.
Growing up we had some amazing holidays. On a trip to Los Angeles, we picked up the hire car and managed to get lost. Dad pulled over and went into a bar. He quickly returned with a troubled look on his face. Dad sheepishly said they weren’t very helpful in there and drove off. A little way up the road we were pulled over by a Police car. The Officer got out, came up and asked Dad ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ We had somehow managed to end up in the centre of the Watts neighborhood – where the race riots had been in the sixties. Dad knew with those seven words he lost his position as Captain of the family.
School was difficult for me, but Mum and Dad did everything to help me. I managed to spend every lunchtime in detention because I didn’t know my times tables. One day Mum and Dad were summonsed for a meeting with the Head Mistress and Dad arrived still dressed in his work uniform (Mum had made him leave straight from work). The Head Mistress told them, Robert needs to learn his times tables as they are important. Dad replied, he will, but it just takes him a bit longer. The Head Mistress decided to show off her knowledge, quickly reciting the 11 times table. Sadly, for her she did not realise who she was in the presence of – Jack Sheppard, Aircraft Dispatcher – responsible for calculating the amount of fuel and trimming needed for a plane simply by calculating it in his head. As Dad politely pointed out her error, they left the Head Mistress’s office. Gone were the lunch time detentions, well for schoolwork anyway. After all, I was ‘the naughty one’.
Seeing the words ‘the naughty one’ reminds me of when I was about 12 years old. I decided at about 3am to take Dad’s car out for a drive and be back well before they woke up. Well my plan did not quite go as I had thought. Driving back up the road towards the house I spotted a Police car on the drive. Thinking quickly, I hid the car around the corner and phoned my friend Sue. Upon arriving at her house, Sue’s mother, Hazel, answered the door. Inside the house I confided in Sue what I had done. I knew it was time to face the music. Hazel kindly volunteered to ring Mum and Dad. As she dialled, I remember asking her to speak to Dad and NOT Mum. Dad came across the road to collect me and I remember on that short walk home Dad saying Rob, I know you want to learn to drive but next time just ask me, and I’ll take you. With a slight feeling of relief, we walked into our house. Lets just say Mum didn’t always see things the same as Dad did.
Dad always believed I would find my own abilities in life and always knew you can’t be perfect at everything. You taught me a lot and some things I taught myself.
Dad’s electrical skills became a bit of a legend from the start with their house in Staines. I remember Mum telling me the story of his first efforts. At the beginning of their marriage money was a bit tight so Dad decided to turn his hand to wiring. Good idea at the time. Unfortunately, upon completion he had managed to rewire the whole house incorrectly so they had no idea which light switch turned on what. After a while they got the hang of it. When things got a bit better financially they could afford a proper electrician. Once things were put right, they then found themselves back in their original position of having no idea which switch turned on which light.
As I got older Dad would ring me up to give him a hand. One day I turned up to find he was having problems with the electrics. Given I knew his past track record I should have known better. Dad is the power all off? Yes, I was reassured, the power is all off. With a sudden jolt of 240 volts going through my body, Dad suddenly remembered the house had two fuse boxes.
Dad was always incredibly organized. Everything tidy, labelled and in its place – even if it didn’t always belong to him. Dad have you got a such and such tool? Yes, right here. Thanks Dad. Hey, wait a minute, this is mine! Another tool claimed by the infamous JFSheppard sticker.
Mum rang me up one day and asked if I could come round. Unbeknown to Dad, Mum had booked a cruise and she needed me for support when she broke the news. Well let’s just say I realised a few things that day, first off Dad was still Captain of the family. As Dad’s estimation on the cost kept rising gradually higher and higher, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. In short, nothing … perhaps for the only time in my life Mum obviously felt really sheepish and thought the best tactic was to say nothing! As I stood there wishing the earth would swallow me up, Dad asked Mum, what made you tell me today? Mum simply replied, well … I used your credit card! All I managed to mutter was, you’ll have a lovely time. It turned out to be a trip of their lifetime.
Towards the end Dads short-term memory wasn’t very good but he never forgot his love for us, Vicki, Mona, Emma, Clive and me.
The laughs we all had with you Dad will always make me smile when I think of them. Your support for your family was unconditional.
You were not perfect but you did one heck of a great job.
We will miss you Dad especially your cuddles. You treated Clive and me as your best friends and sons. Thank you for everything.
Knowing you are back with Mum, together again, gives me strength and happiness. As from the Carry On films that made us laugh, we will always have our saying (in a slightly camp voice) Byze Wizee.
I would like to thank Dads neighbour’s and close friends for their support in helping with Dad by keeping a watchful eye over him in the past few years.
With love
Rob ‘the naughty one’
