The Soulsbys Blog

Alzheimer’s is a cruel disease. It takes away your personality; it robs you of your soul. But even in the darkest days of his illness, we could still recognize two of Dad’s most characteristic qualities – his ability to turn a witty phrase, and his way of inspiring affection in everyone who met him.

I could dedicate an entire talk to Dad’s kindness and generosity; I think that’s how most people will remember him.

But Dad also had a strong sense of duty and responsibility; and it was this that led him to make a long and successful career with Northumberland Health Authority.

Starting as an apprentice gardener, he passed the Royal Horticultural Society exams and went on to work for many years in the “gardens” at Prudhoe Hall, rising to become Head Gardener and, indeed, Gardens Superintendent for the whole of South-East Northumberland. On his retirement he was awarded the long-service medal by the Royal Horticultural Society.

He dedicated a lot of his private time to the Royal Observer Corps attending both evening meetings and annual camps. Here too he studied for the ROC certificates and it was a quiet source of pride to him when he achieved the coveted red Spitfire award.

This interest in the Observer Corps was perhaps an indication that Dad had a more adventurous side. One memorable trip for him was a flight along the Tyne Valley in a helicopter, and he thought nothing of bundling his young family into the family car and driving through the night to visit an exhibition in London, be it Tutankhamen or the Motor Show.

In his retirement he traveled extensively around Europe with my Mam, visiting sites as diverse as the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow and the towns of the Amalfi coast. One particular highlight of his retirement was an extended trip to New Zealand. Typically this was to visit family members there.

Dad always enjoyed dancing and after he retired he learned sequence dancing with my Mam. It was a great pleasure for him going to the dances at Prudhoe and Ovingham, where his favorite dance was the Hawaiian Rumba - though it may have been just as much for the chance of a little light-hearted flirting with the other ladies as for the charms of the Hawaiian Rumba that he enjoyed the dances.

But Dad was first and foremost a family man. He was always close to his brothers and sisters and enjoyed a long and successful marriage to my Mam. He was a loving and loyal husband, a caring father, a role model for his children and grandchildren. Never loud, he made his presence felt through his consistency and dependability. He was happy to celebrate our successes with us, and to offer help, advice and encouragement in more difficult times.

I opened by referring to Dad’s illness, and it would be remiss of me in closing not to mention the many friends that Dad had in Lindisfarne. Whether carers, other residents or the visitors. It has been a comfort to know that Dad – and my Mam – have been supported through these years by such true friends.

Thank you

Paul Soulsby

Posted on March 23rd, 2009 under Uncategorized •  Print This Post •  Email This Post • RSS 2.0 feed • Leave a response, or trackback