My best friend who I was lucky enough to call my dad. 


The person I could speak to about anything in life and he would always be there for me to offer support and advice and never judge me. 
Dad was everything you could possible want in a person. Thoughtful, Loving, caring, friendly, funny and would do anything for anyone to help out.


Dad supported me though the good and the bad times and accetped me for me and I'll never forget that. 
  
He always used to make me laugh that he would speak to absolutely anyone with a smiling friendly face. He loved to take  walks into town just so he could bump into people to talk too and introduce me them. I know he was so proud of me and Jody and I've heard that he often spoke about us.   
 


Dad loved the family life and worked hard his whole career to ensure we had a good life. We used to love our camping holidays down in Padstow. We often took two cars just so that we could bring all of our water sports equipment as well as the boat and the bikes. 
  


I loved that dad had so many hobbies and always knew how to enjoy life and make the most of everyday.
 
My early memories of dads hobbies are of him water skiing when we used to go out on our speed boat with Ray and Paula at wier key. As i've seen on pictures and from what Ray has told me dad always looked like he was going to the toilet when he water skied and when he snow skied. 


Many of dads hobbies me and Jody became interested in too like biking and boating. 
(Upsetting for dad though neither of us became Train enthusiasts)


But what i noticed about Dad is that he would always give anything ago even if it meant him almost drowning when Ray took him kayaking once.
 
We spent a lot of time with close friends and went on many exciting adventures which dad would always get involved such as climbing, abseiling, Ski holidays, camping, sailing, wind surfing, Boating on the Norfolk broads and many more.  






But Dad loved his Bike rides and often we rode together, Recently he took me on one of his favourite rides which is the Exeter to Dawlish ride and as many of you could guess this is mainly because of his love for trains and the sea which you ride beside most of the way. Dad took great joy in beating me on this ride recently due to his new electric bike.




Dads passion for trains and boats introduced him to so many amazing people throughout his life and some of them people will   be here today and will have shared them good times with him. 
He loved volunteering at the Okehampton railway, (Well he used to call it playing rather than working)  He spend many Sundays up there and made some good friends. He continued his love for trains at home where he made a model railway in the loft and in the garden which he took pride in telling people about and showing them. 
I remember when I recommended Dad to go onto an auctioneering TV program called FLOG IT where he got to show off his garden railway on the BBC which made his day.    


I loved spending time with Dad and loved when he came to visit me in Brighton. We both fell in love with the bike ride we would do from Peacehaven to Brighton along the cliff tops looking out to sea the whole ride then ending up at his favourite place The Brighton Pier.
  
These are the moments I will remember for ever Dad and i shall continue to enjoy this ride thinking of you and taking you with me every time. 




I'll miss our daily chats on the phone whilst I'm on my way home from work with you always asking me how the sea looked and wishing you were here with me. 
I'll miss all our adventures we had and the ones we had planned too. 
I'll miss your passion towards everything I did in life or wanted to achieve. 




I'll miss your love for my partner Dino who you always treated like he was your own son and thought the world of. I'll never forget the smile on your face when I told you Dino was coming to visit you towards the end of your life. That showed me how much he meant to you and I know he will miss you too. 
  


You were taken too early and I shall miss you so much. You've left a massive gap in my life and my heart. 
I will always think about you and take you everywhere i go so that I can continue to share amazing times with you.  


 
Love you for ever my dad, 


Love Your Olly