In my final Lundi limerick yesterday I used the hamlet of Acton and linked it to the fact that it played a large part in my Dad’s life.
In the process of digging out a bit of real life background, rather than the normal wikipedia, or google sources, I rummaged through the suitcase that I brought away from Dad’s house after he died at the grand age of 96.
Mum had died nearly 11 years before and everyone expected Dad to follow fairly swiftly after. He was, after all, a hard working farm labourer, who had relied on Mum for meals, clean clothes, and a welcoming home. We had all, of course, forgotten his hard upbringing, his determination, and his adaptability.
Within a couple of weeks he had bought himself a microwave. “I’ve always wanted one of these but your Mother would never have one”, he said.
He went on to cook his own meals, wash, dry, and iron his clothes, vacuum the house, and thoroughly enjoy the whole new leaf that he’d turned over. My little sister (three years older than me), who lived a few miles away, kept an eye on him, had him over for Sunday lunch and, over the coming years, gradually helped him more, according to his needs.
Anyway, this isn’t meant to be a definitive history of Dad, purely an extension of the information about his link to Acton.
The suitcase I mentioned earlier has quite a few Bibles, and other books, in it, each one has a story to tell. Dad was a Methodist Local Preacher from the age of 20 until failing hearing, and health, caused him to retire, although he remained ‘on the books’ until his death, and received several certificates of Long Service, even up to 75 years service! It just could not be done nowadays!
Dad was a marvellous preacher. Inspiring, knowledgeable, plain speaking, always linking to everyday life, articulate but never verbose. In everyday life you would never dream that he was a gifted and effective preacher. He was a quiet, mild mannered man whose goodness shone out for all to see, always willing to help, support, and encourage all that he encountered.

How smart they all are, and I love the bicycle parked around the corner! Dad would have done a couple of hours work before going to school and would have many jobs to complete when he got home.






That’s the best way to be remembered as a “man whose goodness shone out for all to see”.
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Thank you Frank. He really was a marvellous father!
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A glorious tribute Peter, and a truly enjoyable read Peter… well done my friend..
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Thank you Ivor.
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Just lovely, Peter. They were a special generation, I think and your father was obviously extra special. The similarities with my own background are numerous, my parents being of like ages as well as the fact that my mum died first. We too thought Dad would give up, having been totally dependent but he lived till he was 93, also mastering a microwave and even a computer (albeit with considerable help and mental moans from me!). And there is also the fact that my brother…3 years older….has a home in South Africa. In other ways our experiences have been very different, but isn’t life strange. I love old photographs. My grandad was an awfully nice old man too.
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My Dad would have loved digital cameras and computers!
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A wonderful man and you have fantastic remembrances of his life , in the books he loved. Very nice story.
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Thank you.
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No wonder you said “and many a little boy, too” on my Megalith post! What a lovely tribute to your father.
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😍 Thank you Dale.
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😍
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Thank you for sharing the story of your dad, Peter. He was a man of determination and had great adaptability for sure. He lived for another 11 years after your mum passed away! Those bibles and books and notes are precious!
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They certainly are Miriam. I wonder what modern day archives will be left behind?
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I wondered about that also, Peter.
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He sounds like a great chap, and what a wonderful thing to find so many memories of him in that case.
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Sadly, the direct line has now ended. I imagine in 50 years time those memories will be gone. I admire the Aborigine storytelling tradition!
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Oh, Peter, thank you for sharing your wonderful dad, and some his life stories, with us! This a beautiful tribute. I am teary-eyed. You were so fortunate to have such a dad! 🙂
Those well-seasoned, well-read Bibles are a treasure.
HUGS!!! 🙂
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Aren’t they just. Some have scraps of paper with handwritten notes and there are a few handcrafted woven articles used as book marks.
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What a beautiful tribute you have written to your father. And How proud you must have felt when you read the tribute from Geoff Rainbow..
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It is a special memory and shows how he affected others outside of the immediate family!
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I feel privileged to have gotten to know your father a little bit right here.
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Thank you Colleen. I have a very strong feeling that you and he would have got on tremendously well!
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What a kind thing to say Peter. Thank you. That means a lot to me.
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How lovely. This is such a great tribute to his memory.
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Thanks Margaret.
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A wonderful tribute to your Dad! Despite so much adversity as a youngster, he made the most of every moment and helped so many others.
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Thank you. xx
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My limerick loving grandfather was an Episcopal priest and I have the prayer book my grandmother used in the ladies society. My mother walked far away from faith, but I was christened by Grandpa and it seemed to have taken. So I love their religious hand me downs.
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They are rather special!
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I’m glad you got to keep your dad 11 more years. What an inspiration to us all.
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