Dear Dad
Your summer solstice birthday makes Father’s Day particularly special in our house and never more so than in this, your 80th year. We are coming from near, far and in-between to celebrate with you; a wonderful day and night which we know will be packed with fun and laughter and banter and memories. Given to talking as we are – generally over each other – there’s a good chance that these celebrations will slip by without us remembering to tell you just how special you are – not only to us, but also to everyone who has had the fortune to count you as a friend. There’s noone who has ever met you who hasn’t been touched by your wit, kindness, integrity and intelligence.
A dare-devil in your college days, you had a reputation (entirely justified) for mischief and pranks; Did the Irish Lights Commissioners ever discover who it was that painted that pint of Guinness on the side of their boat in the dead of night as it was docked out at sea all those years ago? Did King Puck realise how close he once came to assassination?
As a successful businessman you made friends out of clients, colleagues and competition alike with your easy-going ways, professionalism, expertise and vision – although how a respected architect could have distrusted the stability of the leaning tower of Pisa to such an extent that he prevented his new wife from going up it remains a mystery to us all.
As a golfer it’s not too unfair to say that you garnered somewhat more respect for your performance at the 19th hole than at the previous 18. And as a father, son, husband and grandfather, you are, and have always been, a rock – our shelter in the storm.
To your old friends you are “Inky”; to your nine (nearly 10!) adoring grandchildren you are “Pops”; to Mum you are “Ian”. To us you are, simply, Dad. The Best.
Happy Father’s day, Dad, from your four girls who love you more than any words can say.
Love Alex, Rachel, Jessie and Anna