EULOGY FOR TERENCE - from his grandson I would like to tell you a little bit about the man I knew and loved. One of the simple things I will miss about my grandfather would be the way he would always answer his telephone 723513? Every-time. Always helpfully reminding you in the same unchanged, well-spoken manner of the number that you had just dialled – just in case you were in any doubt of it. With the promise of a visit from his dutiful and devoted grandchildren, what would then follow, would involve a moment’s pause as he carefully opened his diary, to “have a look” and see where he could “slot you in” to his busy schedule. The promise of a long weekend and all the fond and simple joys of spending time with my grandfather would then be on the cards. One of the things we learnt early on with our phone conversations with grandpa was that he wasn’t one to dilly-dally on the phone. Once you had said everything that needed to be said - for grandpa - that was the end of the conversation; and whilst my sister and I would be hanging on the phone for every last morsel of conversation, we’d often be met with a rather no nonsense: ‘Ok then, Cheerio, bye-ee!’ *phone click, buuuurgghhhh* Our fondest memories will always be of the times he would take us to Hollycombe Steam Fair, going for walks with the dogs, playing the latest crossword together, listening to his great many stories, and of course, the very best of afternoon teas. He was also a dab-hand at ‘make do and mend’. Much in the spirit of the title of his book ‘Stick and String’; if something could be mended by application of an elastic band, a piece of string, or a little TLC – then it would be. He was well known to us as being the one man for whom it was almost impossible to find a gift– for what can you get for a man who already has everything? If you were to ask me how he viewed his long life, I would simply answer that he was the most contented man I knew; well appeased with his life achievements, the stories he had collected, and the many friends he had made along the way. He could want for nothing but another crossword, a good result on the football, another episode of Dad’s Army; and the most amazing food, lovingly worked up by Marigold, Nikki, or Andy. When dining out he had a sweet tooth for ‘lumpy bumpy pudding’ but what he would call ‘Rumpy-Pumpy pudding’ - the saucy rewording , followed by his characteristic roar of laughter hinting at his keen sense of humour - and having devoured the entire pudding, winning his quietly upturned face of approval. A true gentleman if ever there was, my grandfather could only be adored by every person fortunate to know him. To put it simply, Terence is a real treasure to everyone that gets to call him their friend, and family. A life well lived, which he filled with cherished memories. Being his grandson was the luckiest ticket of them all, and he inspired in me the image of the man I would like to be. Lawrence Tinsley