Mike.
Firstly I Want to thank you all for coming today to honour my Dad. I know these are difficult times with Covid restrictions and some of you have travelled a long distance to pay your respects and be with us today. I know Dad would have appreciated seeing you all here for him.
Brian Ernest John was born a Devonian in Barnstaple on 25th November 1933. The second child to Nancy and Frank and younger Brother by four years to Francis Jean who I know wanted to be with us today. Unfortunatly, much to her disapointment she is unable to after suffering a recent fall.
My Dad and Jean retained a special bond between them, which continued into later life with Jean religiously speaking to Dad on a weekly basis just to let him know she was still there for him while he was in the caring hands of Wingfield House.
Jean met her Husband Lesley when she was 16. Lesley, or Les, very soon became like an older brother to Dad and they would remain close friends throughout their lives. When Les was called up for his National Service, Jean told Dad that he could accompany her to the pictures but first, he had to wash his face and hands and pull his socks up. I know from personal expierience that you always did what Auntie Jean told you and all of us still do to this day.
Dad was never an academic, in fact after his first year in Grammer School, the head teacher called his parents in to discuss his future. It was agreed that further schooling did not interest Dad and that his Uncle Jack would take him on as an apprentice confectionary baker in Bideford.
With Uncle Jack dad had discovered his love of baking and cooking, so when he was called up for National Service in 1954 he chose to join the Royal Air Force entering the catering core.
Not long after joining the RAF he suffered a serious accident on his beloved motor bike hitting a very large cow (according to dad) which was crossing the road. While in hospital after the accident he met the nurse who was to become the love of his life. Mind you it was not love at first sight as mum struggled to come to terms with his sense of humour and she tells us that she ‘accidentally’ ran over his foot with the medicine trolley. Thankfully dad was not deterred by this apparent set back in his tactics and went on to marry mum in December 1959 spending the next 61 years rarely parted.
Together, with mum, Dad went on to proudly complete 35 years regular service with the RAF. His final posting was as the Catering Warrant Officer at RAF Rudloe Manor near Corsham. He left the RAF in 1989 putting on civilian clothes and joining the Civil Service. Although now a civilian, or Civvie as dad would say you would never know it, he alwaysremained a true Warrant Officer and finally retired in 1999 at the age of 65. Although retired, dad never forgot his friends, he held the brotherhood and traditions of the forces close to his heart retaining an RAF social membership long after his retirement.
Dad also spent many years as a member on various committees and societies. One of which he followed his father Frank into the Royal Order of the Buffaloes. Commonly known as The ‘Buffs’ their moto is ‘No man is at all times wise’. My Dads moto on the other hand was ‘I may have many faults, however being wrong is not one of them’. His favourite cat ‘Smokey’ has this on her photo which none of us dare to move from the house - even now Smokey sits there watching us all.
When I was 2 years old dad left on a 12 month unaccompanied tour to Aden in the Middle East, during his absence mum and I moved to Highlands to live with Nan and grandad Stanley. On his return from duty it was mum and dads wish that were possible the family would stay together throughout his career. The following years were spent on several postings around the UK and 3 years in Cyprus.
He was a very determined (Some would say stubborn) man, we knew that when his mind was made up there was very little anyone could do to change it. He insisted that when the 4 children left home as young adults we all took a handful of stamp addressed envelopes to write home to mum. Woe betide if any of us left it too late to write home, telling dad that there were no post boxes close by was not a good idea – trust me.
Dad had a very special way of talking to you with his eyes, he had a mischievous look that without fail made you look over your shoulder even though you knew nothing was there, but you could never be sure if you had walked in to one of his gags. It was only when he smiled and his eyes sparkled you knew he had got you again. I think we will all agree,especially his grandchildren, that if you got a wink from dad you knew you were doing ok.
Being a military family my brothers and sister were comfortable with travel often finding ourselves separated following our own paths in the world. However, Xmas was the one time of the year when we were all expected to gravitate back home to celebrate the year together. No excuses were accepted, especially if it was clear that they had been concocted at the last minute on the back of a cigarette packet.
Chris
Dad loved his music, Aker Bilk, Benny Goodman, Glen Miller. The Pink Panther theme. His taste was very eclectic but his love for a good tune was endless. During his tour of Aden dad had his own radio show for about a year, on British Forces radio, playing big band music. A subject he was very knowledgeable on.
Dad’s sense of humour was legendary. He taught us to laugh at ourselves. He told us all that if we couldn’t do this then we had no right to laugh at anybody else.
He loved practical jokes and played them on us as children all the time. Unfortunately, time here does not allow us to give them justice. Suffice to say I know they will be told time and again, dad will live on in our hearts.
However, Dad could never understand that we would grow up and all play jokes on him. He complained to Mump that it just wasn’t right! And we did play jokes on him.
The time Mike broke down in his car on a cold wet Sunday evening. One which I am sure you all know but if not we can tell you at a later date. Suffice to say when dad realised that we had got him out of his hot Sunday bath and set him up in a large muddy puddle there was a stream of obscenities that no child should hear from their father and will never be repeated to Mump.
All through Dads life his love of family shone through. There was nothing he enjoyed more than his family being present. Whether that was his own children, grandchildren, his sister, his in-laws and his own parents. He had a special bond with the entire family. His mother in law was a particular favourite and her home, Highlands, was where we would all head for on holidays, Christmas, Easter and summer holidays were spent there as children. So many memories and not enough time here to reminisce. Enough to say Dad loved every minute spent there, well almost apart from the time he trapped his finger between two ladders – another story for another day.
Dad didn’t always approve of some of my life decisions. He used to accuse me of not listening to him…….. I always listened but sometimes chose my own path. I can hear him laughing now as I repeat the same advice to my own children with the same effect.
But I have to say my Dad inspired me. He was always there for me. And never once let me down. His little wink and smile are famous throughout the family, along with his toast on family occasions which was always ‘To absent friends’.
Once again, thank you from all of us for being here today and those via the web cam as we bid Dad a safe onward journey.