Dad, I wrote this to you in 2022 and then read it at your bedside towards the end in February 2023. I wanted to make sure you knew in words how much I love you and how grateful I am for everything you’ve done for me. I feel so lucky to call you dad, you are one of a kind and will forever be loved. 

The way you raised us built great character and good humour, not to mention endless competitiveness, diligence and ambition. You have been a role model for working hard to succeed, enjoying life and making an impact. I have so many fond memories from childhood days out always with mental arithmetic in the car; and your treasured crocodile dance at my wedding; plus I’m glad of the embarrassing memories too like when you told me you were sorry not to see me bowl in front of my super fours coach or the awkward introductions as you reel off my cricketing stats to another captured stranger. 

I know at times I’ve made you mad for example capsizing a canoe that lost the seat to the river bed; breaking a window at St John’s Avenue; and repeated punctuality flaws like still playing tennis 5 minutes before the restaurant booking in Alderney. It was always more fun making you proud or at least providing a mocking opportunity like my university challenge appearances have. Its your infectious attitude that enables me to see the funny side of life too. 

Your tolerance has been tested throughout and good humoured forgiveness would prevail. Your ability to find comedic value at every turn has been formidable, including after I recently directed you down a bus lane. Obviously this had to have a bearing on your infamous organisational rankings. Those cherished rankings have tied the family together on many occasions with hilarious debates. They have endured your generous self-marking at the helm throughout and to everyone’s delight. You have been an entertaining dad without a shadow of doubt. 

You saw my cricket path long before I dreamed about it; you coached me at school, club and county and drove me up and down the country then flew around the world again and again. You never stopped. You always had my best interests at heart. You took me along to my first session, you swapped cameras for great cricket bats, and found the best university for me. When I was asked for my first autograph abroad I saw they had already got yours! Thank you dad. Thank you for the endless encouragement and helping me make us both proud.

I now get to call you grandad and watch fondly as you influence our future bloodlines. Asking Laurence for his Southampton F.C. contract after a kids half term camp aged 6 will always make me smile. Being bowled out to his left arm living room spin is right up there too because like so many occasions it was filled with affectionate laughter all round.

I know we big three take articulate too seriously, leave things to the last minute and revel in each others slip ups. We might also fall foul of not communicating accurately even within our own households! I had so many chances to tell you all this throughout my life, and it took the end of yours for me to share it. I love you so much dad. We’ve shared so much and you’ve given so much. I will forever be proud of partnering you in victory at your top 100 golf course landmark. 

I can picture you in so many scenes of my life sometimes wearing pink trousers or a green suit or more likely the ECBCA tracksuit or a Brighton shirt. Whatever the fashion you were never on it, but you always wore a smile or spilled that unique laugh to everyone’s delight.

Thank you for being you as you make an amazing dad and grandad. You have taken on this disease with your typical zest for life, and non-stop job creation! Booking our glass bottom boat tour, leading the way in wordle and sharing bullet accolades has been great fun. You seem to find energy in every situation and only a temple could have achieved this.

I’ve always felt your love and pride and relished in your good humour dad. Your influence on me will be everlasting. I share this again now as a tribute for how much I care and how grateful I feel. I will think of you creating jobs in heaven or canoeing on the clouds. Wherever you are, you will always be in our hearts and can always claim your spot at the top of the Atkins rankings.
Love you always and forever, Caroline xxoxx

PS. (Borrowed Lyrics from Luther)
If I could steal one final glance, one final card
one final chance with him
I'd play a game that would never ever end
Cause I'd love, love, love to play with my father again
                                                                                 ... You will always be our Number 1 Bullet