Reflections of a life shared with Roy
Mavis
When we were growing up we used candle light to go upstairs to the bedroom, that was until Roy got a job delivering bread for the local bakery and he used his wages to buy a torch.  I have lots of childhood memories, too numerous to share.  When mother was at work our Roy was supposed to look after me.  I remember him putting me into the bread basket on the front of his bike and taking me to the woods, going to the circus and bringing home a mangy dog and the day he brought home a jackdaw.  Mother went mad! He was always up to mischief but he has always been there for me throughout my life.  So sorry I cannot be with you today brother but I will be thinking of you.
 
Trudy
When I was a little girl, I looked up to my dad.  My first memory, when I was about 3, was being at the seaside in Bournemouth. He told me not to go out too far.  When I asked  “why?” his response was, as usual “because I told you so”.  Not very helpful, I used to think, so ignored him and decided to find out for myself.  This resulted in Dad having to save me from drowning after a big wave swept me off my feet.  After that day I could always swim!   Dad never learned to manage my inquisitive nature and continued to say “I told you so” usually with me finding out the hard way.
 
Swimming was something I enjoyed with Dad. He used to get us out of Mum’s hair on a Sunday morning and take us to Gloucester Barton pool.  On the way he liked to pretend to be Sterling Moss when driving down the hill at Horsepools.  Although we giggled and found it fun, we were scared as we were buffeted across the seats (of course there were no seatbelts in those days).  Dad taught me to dive off the top diving board at Barton pool, which seemed really high.  When I became anxious he always reminded me of the times he dived off the top board of Stratford Park swimming pool with Auntie Mavis on his back!  How could I not dive on my own after that reminder? 
 
Dad was gutted when diving boards were removed at Stratford Park and Barton pools and constantly complained that health and safety had taken the fun out of life. 
His frustration with health and safety was a constant annoyance to him which meant he often broke the rules, especially ”No Diving” signs at swimming pools.  When Bob and I were on holiday in Kenya and Egypt we were often embarrassed when we watched the annoyed faces of sunbathers as he created almighty splashes when diving into the pool. 
 
As I grew up, my relationship with Dad was much more challenging and, at times, quite difficult.  I feel the constant challenges made me a much stronger, independent person than I might have been and in Dad’s later years I feel the disagreements helped us to develop a better understanding and respect for each other; Dad always introducing me to everyone as his senior daughter. 
 
Although Dad always insisted on us telling the truth, I was often in trouble when I did.  The last words he said to me were “when I can speak properly, you’re in trouble!” 
He never did get the chance to tell me which truth I was in trouble for, but I can guess!
 
I know you are now where you want to be Dad  – rest in peace with your beloved Margaret.
 
 
Bev
I remember many happy hours sledging when we were kids.  On one occasion the sledge hit a mound and he broke a rib whilst I was riding on his back. He also took us on long country walks, sometimes getting lost.  I enjoyed family holidays in Cornwall, particularly Kynance Cove and watching him dive off the top board at Stratford Park swimming pool and going to jalopy, stock car racing and scrambling which was great fun.  It was lovely to meet up with Dad, Margaret, Greg and Liz when Dad’s 80th Birthday celebration mini cruise docked at Cartegena. Dad loved to go for walks along the canal at the Junction in Saul and I enjoyed accompanying him a couple of years ago. 
 
 
Micky
Dad taught me to swim which is something I am thankful for.  I remember him taking me to Stratford Park outdoor pool.  He would always dive off the top board, even though he wasn’t supposed to.  Everyone liked to watch him but he was usually reprimanded by the lifeguards.
 
 
Greg
I remember going to watch the RAC rally with Dad (now the World Rally) in the Forest of Dean and mid Wales. We also used to go to lots of scrambles around the country (now called moto x).  Holidays in Cornwall; staying at Cadgwith and going to Kynance Cove especially.  I used to go off to work with him a lot, at weekends and in my school holidays.  I also remember him taking us swimming to Gloucester Leisure Centre on Sunday mornings.
 
 
Ben
I have very fond memories of Grampy offering to take me to Winston’s on the common which usually turned in to a 2-3 hour trip because as we were there, it would have been a shame not to get a couple of holes in whilst we were up there.
We also had a fantastic holiday to Disney and Florida and it’s a holiday I’ll never forget. We went on an airboat ride in Florida to look for crocodiles. When the tour guide stopped the boat, one approached from behind Grampy, when the guide pointed it out Grampy jumped out of his skin and bolted to the other side of the boat. Whilst expressing his shock with some choice words he wouldn’t normally have said in front of me.
 
I have so many memories of Grampy, especially from growing up but the ones that have stuck with me the most are the typical days we had. The days where I went with him to where he worked, attended to the garden, visited family or put up the Christmas lights. No matter what had to be done on any given day, Grampy always made time for me and nothing was ever too much trouble. 
 
Martin
I knew Roy for over 35 years when Julie and I were introduced to him by my mother.  Since then we have always lived a fair distance away so didn't get to know him as well as I might have if we had lived closer. He clearly loved my mother and he obviously made her happy over the years, only wanting the best for her, even up to the end when they chose to go into a nursing home together.
 
Whilst we both played golf, unfortunately we didn't get to play together as much as I would have liked.
 
Both Simon and Lewis have fond memories of him as he took them to the play park, with Bethany and Quinn, when they were a lot younger.
 
 
Hayley & Ryan
Hayley said Gramps tried to teach her to play golf once, without much success.  Whenever they visited Gramps, Hayley would drink all his cider and Ryan ate all his biscuits.  Gramps loved to get down on the floor and play with them and their toys when they were little.
 
 
Laura & Olly
We both remember when Grampy and Margaret went on all their holidays.  We often looked after his beloved Cally dog when we lived in Blakeney.  We used to take Cally to Mallards Pike with Dad and she would swim the length of the lake. 
 
 
Ash
To me, he was Gramps. 
When I was young we had great family fun sledging down Devereaux Hill with Gramps often bombing down head first.
 
Golf and Gramps literally went hand in glove, with my early memories of being guided around Minchinhampton golf course with Gramp’s unique way of instructing me to what shot I should have played, often after I played the shot it didn’t quite meet with his approval.
 
Early memories with Gramps often involved his shadow, Cally the dog.  It was rare you would see Gramps without Cally by his side, other than when I used to borrow her in the summer holidays and weekends….
 
When I grew up and became a home owner Gramps would often come to the rescue with his plumbing skills, including Cheltenham race day when me and a heavily pregnant Di were having carpets fitted.  Before I was leaving for the races I thought I’d just tack down the squeaky floorboards only to put a hole in the hot water pipe!  Gramps came to the rescue to solder the pipe and let me get off to the races.  A real hero that day.  He didn’t call me any names either – honest!
                                                                                                       
Gramps always introduced me to anybody as his little grandson, even up to his last days I spent with him, always the reaction “not really small is he Roy”.
 
In latter days I would often visit Gramps and Marg and would always be offered our shared tipple of a glass of apples.  Something I could never say no to.  I’ll raise a glass tonight Gramps.
 
In recent weeks I was allowed to take Gramps out from the home and he would take me on mystery tours of local sights and pubs he had happy memories of.  The last pub we visited was the Red Lion at Wainlodes where we shared what would be our last tipple but this time he opted for an Irish coffee.  That will be a memory I will keep forever.
Love you Gramps.
 
 
Darren
Gramps, I used to enjoy being your golf caddy when I was young, especially as you would allow me to nibble on the cheese or roast potatoes at the bar and buy me a cheeky shandy. 
I learned a lot about plumbing when I accompanied you at work.  It inspired me to do a plumbing course which came in really handy once I became a home owner.
I remember watching you proudly taking the really long walk up the slope at the Rococo Gardens to the Red House when you gave my mum away at her marriage to Bob and also how proud you were when you came onboard HMS Ocean to see me just over 20 years ago.
You also left me and Ash with a real legacy – we both inherited the shiny bold head.
Thanks for that!
Rest in peace Gramps