Thoughts from David junior: Dad collected tools and bits of wiring and mechanical gadgets. He qualified as a mechanical engineer at Aston University Birmingham? collecting his degree from the Queen Mother at the Royal Albert Hall. Mum went to watch.  He worked on small parts for Concorde, also Harrier jumpjet engines employed by Lucas Aerospace as an apprentice after the 2nd world war. Towards the end of his career he did some work with RollsRoyce.   I found a box of watches he collected. He liked 🕰 clocks and cars but could repair many broken mechanical items. The last powertool he repaired was a Karcher jetwasher. Photos from when he was in South America are interesting. He visited America and there’s an amazing photo of dad standing next to the Panama Canal.  I also found some tennis photos from the eighties which I shall upload to his tribute website. He did say, he regretted never visiting his father at the end of his life because of work commitments. He thought the work environment went bad and cuthroat in the mid 1980s. In contrast, he was able to support his aunt, uncle and mother-in-law in a way he was happier with and they appreciated.  When his mum was poorly, dad was struggling health wise so thankfully his brother was able to help out.  Dad played tennis well with speed, strength & agility at weekends for social doubles or evenings in teams. He won two medals when he was over 80 at his club West Warwickshire and was club secretary for many years.  He learnt tennis at Solihull Arden tennis club whilst living in Fircroft but had also learnt tennis from a female coach in Colombia where he and his brothers spent much of their young lives when not at Bromsgrove boarding School. His favourite childhood holiday was in Montego Bay. In retirement he thoroughly enjoyed VE Day 2020 recalling as a boy lighting a bonfire on the clay tennis courts at home in Colombia to celebrate it.  He was fortunate enough to miss the war in Europe. Retirement was ok for my parents staying healthy well into their 70’s. Dad with tennis, his cardiac gym club (following his first heart attack) and a mission to research the family tree;  and supporting  Mum with the arts society and costuming shows for theatre up until 2018. Both fans of Gilbert & Sullivan music he also played Paraguayan music and liked some Mexican 1950’s guitar music. My parents didn’t waste retirement money on cruises or expensive holidays however. Quite moderate in things really- they loved time away in the Cotswolds, on Anglesey and seeing family.   I helped them a lot in the last 10 years with their health problems ; more so over the last five years. Dad joined the coeliac club to get advice on gluten free diets. They didn’t go abroad except to visit me in Berlin for a week and Mum went onto St Petersburg Russia during the Gorbachev era. In UK we enjoyed many daytrips visiting relations or checking out national trust properties or visiting splendid gardens within driving distance. Hidcote; Packwood House; Bodnant Wales & many Arts & Crafts style houses. Llaneilian Anglesey in Wales was my fathers birthplace and where his parents retired after the war. The contrasts seen over dads lifetime are interesting and immense - the end of his era as someone has said.   We have had a lot of sympathy cards. Since he died many neighbours told me how much they miss chatting to him. Many people commented he was a lovely gentle man.