| Bob and Mo also remember
a time when they took Pop with them on holiday in Scotland. They went to
visit a spot where, long ago, soldiers had shot two villagers. The reason
was that they were carrying the wrong version of the Bible. Bob, Mo and
Pop set off to the middle of the woods and found the memorial. Bob and Mo
said, "Isn't it lovely here?" Pop's reply was typical. "I
wish they had shot them nearer the road!" Pop was proud of being 92 and not looking it. "How old do you think I am?" he would ask strangers. He was young at heart. During the last Christmas holidays, at Guildford, we found an activity which everyone from 5 year old Tyler to 92 year old Pop could enjoy - 10 pin bowling. He was delighted to find that they had bowling shoes big enough for him, size 12, and with the aid of a ramp he could compete.
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| Pippa thought of Pop as still being the teenager, living with his family,
sharing his time, love of food, life and family, with all who met him. She
cannot believe that she will never know him better.
He came back from Wales the Saturday before he died with a "number 4" haircut - courtesy of Dave - and we all had to admire and feel it! He said to Dave on the Friday, "Dave, give me a number 4 all over. Show me what to do. It will save me five pounds every four weeks or so if I buy a hair trimmer like yours." As Dave was cutting Pop's hair, he was reminded of the times when as a child, he would take his turn with the other boys to have his hair cut, sitting in the back yard on a plank of wood stretched between the arms of a kitchen chair, with a tea-towel round his neck. Pop would set to work with hand clippers and scissors. He told Pop that he never expected to be doing it to him one day! Although he had many ailments - his hip and knee problems - his deafness ( that hearing aid! We were always telling him, "You're whistling again Pop.")- his elastic support stockings - his false teeth - his Algepan (the smell of which will trigger memories for all of us) he never complained. He was always ready for the next holiday or visit to family. Likewise he always made everyone very welcome at 13, Salisbury Road. |
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