Michael, Mike, Mick … whatever each of you knew him as, to Hilary & me he was simply “Dad”.

Today he would certainly have been very humbled to see how many of his family and friends have turned up to celebrate his life.

He would also have been very surprised, as he was a very reserved man, and we are incredibly blessed to have had him as our Dad, husband, grandad and friend.

Since his passing, I have been reading the comments that several of you have left on his tribute site, and I am delighted to see a recurring theme that comes out of those comments: that Dad was a gentleman.

It pleases me greatly to see so many of you agreeing that it is possible to live a good life by being a quiet, gentle soul, with no need to seek acknowledgement and affirmation for everything you do.

Dad was a man of few words, but when he opened up or made a comment, it was usually something ridiculously profound.

He was an observer and a listener, always allowing others to share their opinions before he gave his.

Dad never wanted for much, but was able to fit so many things into his life.

He devoted most of his spare time to his two main passions: athletics and gardening, and when he wasn’t officiating at an athletics event would usually be found on his allotment, much to Mum’s annoyance as he could be gone for hours!

He somehow also managed to find time for weekly sessions of Bridge, regularly attending Garden Club, popping up to Overton train station every time a steam train was passing (if, indeed, he wasn’t actually on it with Mum on one of their regular awayday excursions!), as well as expanding his knowledge and love of nature by participating in yearly butterfly and garden bird counts.

Duty, decency, reliability, honour, dignity, respect: these are all qualities that Dad not only held in high esteem, but practised every day during his time on this earth, and I only hope I can live up to the wonderful example he showed me.

I will miss Dad’s presence every day and I’m so grateful for the time I had with him.

He will be forever missed, and his memories will stay etched in my mind for as long as I am still here.

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge one other person in Dad’s life: Mum.

For nearly 60 years they shared everything life can offer together, and were a great team, supporting each other in every way.

I am humbled by Mum’s strength over the past few weeks and her ability to focus on the amazing life she shared with Dad, and not to dwell on what she has lost.

I hope that through this, Hilary and I can find strength from her example and be there for her whenever she needs us.