Goodnight…

This can only be an obituary to my father-in-law Garry Kenneth Kingdon, who died 15th September aged 87, 5 days after his birthday. Today is his funeral. He was in my life for nearly 25 years and in that time has had a significant impact on it.

The beginning of this summer was traumatic, he was diagnosed as being terminally ill. He was first diagnosed with bladder cancer in 1990. Since then he had both ocular and prostate cancer from which he made remarkable recoveries. This summer the bladder cancer finally moved and created a problem. Early in the summer he had an infection from which he made a remarkable recovery. During the time I was in the UK, a few weeks ago, I saw him. And whilst he was not back to his normal self he certainly didn’t look as though he was about to die.

Friday 10th September was his birthday and I think he was absolutely determined to make it to that. And one thing that Garry could be relied on to be, was resolute. He deemed that I had upset him once and whilst he saw me everyday, he didn’t speak to me for two months. So grit and determination were always trademarks of his character. He was only 5 feet 4 inches tall but he could have men of 6 foot quaking in their boots. What you always knew though is that if he was on your side he could be relied upon and would absolutely support you.

He was born in 1934 and was 5 years old at the outbreak of World War 2. During the war a temporary army camp was created on Plaister Down and a large number of soldiers were billeted there, something that he clearly remembered. Many years later he was involved in bringing the camp back into use when refugees from Idi Amin’s rein of terror were housed there.

With age he definitely mellowed. He loved his grandchildren, of whom he had four. He spent time with them and went on outings with them. At the age of four one of my children showed an interest in carpentry, so Garry created a small tool kit for him and taught him some basic skills. He had been a 7 year trade indentured carpenter, many of the skills that he had, are possessed by few these days. Even now when my son completes any carpentry he’ll say, ‘It works, but don’t let Grampy see it’.

I am happy to report that he went in his sleep at home, something that he very much wanted. He won’t want much fuss, but I am sure that we will be having in his words, ‘a beer up’ with which to remember him. Cheers Garry.