My Dad's funeral yesterday..

[gripper stebson]

Went to my Dad's funeral yesterday… He died of a heart attack on Sunday aged 56.

Dad took me to my first Albion match during the '83 cup run when we beat Man.City 4-0. Sadly we had booked a bloody family hoilday in May and missed the final so myself and Dad found a little Spanish café who had a radio and listened to it on the World Service. We ran back to tell my Mum and Sister that we almost won it but to be honest they weren't really that interested!! The Thursday of the replay my Dad decked the whole house out in blue and white balloon, scarfs and rosettes and most of my family came round. 3-0 down at half time I was crying in my room…. Dad said…don't worry, there's always next season!

Since then I reckon I've seen about 450 games!!

This is also the man who could not find me an Albion subbuteo team for my birthday so bought a Leeds one and spent what must have been hours after I had gone to bed HAND PAINTING it with blue and white stripes!

A very funny man , a top bloke and a top Dad. RIP.

xxx

 

[Northstander]

Very sorry indeed!!!

RIP

 

[Marshy]

RIP

 

[:J)]

Sad news mate. RIP.

 

[Gazwag]

Sounded like he was a top man

Sorry for your loss

Rest in Peace Grippers Dad

 

[Caveman]

Sympathies to you and your family.

 

[caz99]

RIP.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

 

[Harold]

Sorry to hear of your loss. Lost my Dad Feb this year in similar circumstances (aged 58) and it was a horrible time.

Have the best Christmas you can and remember the good times mate.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Lovelly story

My father died at 52 from a stress related stroke, and like your Dad, he took me and my brother to games when we lived down in Wiltshire ( back in the early 70's)..Swindon, Bristol City, Southhampton.....

When we moved to Brighton in 1975, he took us both to see Brighton vs Crystal Palace at the Goldstone and we were hooked. One regret I have is that we all stood in the east terrance together up till I was about 17, and then I stopped standing there and went with mates ( and my future wife). I used to pop up and see Dad further up the terraces, but he used to stand on his own. He finally called it a day , citing that fact that he wasn't a Barry LLoyd fan. I do wish looking back that he would have come and stood by us and feel very guilty that we left him on his own.

When he died, it was the worst day of my life and still remains that to this day

Look back on all the good things you shared, the Christmasses, the birthdays, the holidays.

I know this sounds a tad slushy, but when Tasha Yar died on Star Trek, she made a video as a goodby, just in case they "died " on a mission. What she said has lived with me till this day...she said " .....I will always live on all the time that you think of me and remember me....alwways think of me ...." That got me through a very bad time in my life.

God Bless your Dad

 

[Hiney]

RIP

 

[Brovion]

Lovely post Gripper, and yours too DtG. It's especially poignant this time of year.

 

[Lush]

Yes DtG. This is a quote from brilliant Irish writer William Trevor in "After Rain", talking about a wife who lost her husband.

"For a moment Catherine felt the rising of her tears, the first time since the morning of the death, but stoically she held them in. Their marriage had not gone. Their marraige was still there in children and in grandchildren, in the voices that had spoken well of it, in the bed they had shared, and in remembering."

 

[brighton rock]

Sad news mate. RIP.

 

[eastlondonseagull]

He sounds a lovely man - thinking of you and your family Gripper.

 

[Seagull's Return]

Sounds like a great dad, sad news - RIP.

 

[mrhairy]

Thoughts with you at this time.

 

[alan partridge]

Very sad to hear that mate.

Lovely post though, sounds like a great guy

 

[Bombardier]

I have yet lose my parents although my wife lost her mother aged 52 from cancer. What Gripper said has really made me sit up and think. My dad used to take me to the Goldstone even though he never really was a sports fan and I really remember an eventful trip to Fratton Park one Boxing day. The thing is I have never really done anything for them and I guess you really don't miss something until it's gone!

Gripper....condolences on your loss. Try and remember the value of Christmas.

 

[gripper stebson]

Dave the Gaffer...

Incredible really mate.

At about fifteen i stood in the South East Corner with my Dad for the last time. Then me and my mate headed for the Northstand..

My Dad carried on for a few months and then stopped. I too look back and wish i'd been a little more thoughtful

He came to Withdean once and thougfht it was crap.

He was right!

x