It's Daddy !!! with some words of praise, admiration and encouragement before you leave on your final journey to a more peaceful world.

Firstly I want to remind you that I love you lots and lots. I always have and always will. How I was so lucky that I spent 41 years with you will always be a mystery of life. It was an honour and a privilege to be your husband . You were a pillar of strength during the entire time we were together; I could have looked the entire world over for the rest of my life and never found anyone better. You were, and will always remain, very special to me.

As you asked, I promise to take care of myself as you would want. I also promise to look after our little lad Denver as you would want. As I am typing this he is sitting on my lap resting his head on the table. You do not need to worry about either of us anymore. You just need to worry and take care of yourself please. I will be watching and checking to make sure that you do!

I know that you often thought you were not a good person. Nothing could have been further from the truth. You were a beacon of light and hope to everyone who knew you and an exceptionally caring and good person - always putting everyone else before yourself. You were - as I keep telling everyone, without equal. It is a pity that there are not more people in the world like you. It would be a better place if there were.
You will be sorely missed by all who knew you, especially me but rest assured that is a price I am willing to pay for being in the presence of someone so special for such a long time.

I also have to say I think that it is a real shame that you did not have a longer, healthier and happier retirement especially as you were such a hard-working, competent and reliable employee during your entire working life. All your employers should feel privileged to have benefitted from your high standards, loyalty, logic and intelligence. On a personal level it is almost entirely due to your efforts that we find ourselves in the comfortable financial situation that exists today and for that you have my heartfelt thanks and admiration. As I said it is a travesty that you are no longer here to enjoy it.

Next I have to say that every item you bought in our home, all reflecting what good taste you have, will live in my memory forever, deeply cherished. If I have to dispose of anything - because of a possible relocation - that you would rather have me keep, let me apologise now. I will do my best to keep everything that you would want in your new home and will try to make sure you are happy and comfortable there with Denny and I.

Importantly, thank you for looking after me so well. I know of no wife in the world who took better care of her husband than you. Putting out my clothes for me when I was still working (and even until very recently), reminding me - "Clean shirt, put a coat on, where is your scarf, drive carefully etc. etc." are but a few of the hundreds of examples of care you gave me. It was greatly appreciated - I just regret not having told you more often how much it meant to me. If I had taken such care of you I would be able rest easy.

Also thank you for all that you taught me. Apart from the practical basics that now enable me to look after myself the most important thing you taught me by far was to be a better person. Whilst I still have a way to go to reach your level you can be proud of the changes you brought about in me.

And of course you didn't deserve what you had to go through - the pain, suffering and distress etc. especially during the last 6 months or so. I know nobody does but I feel you least of all should not have had to go through what you did. You were so kind and caring, caring more about everyone else than you did about yourself until the very, very end - to your last breath. I cannot even begin to tell you how much that meant to everyone. It was both impressive and admirable.

Before I close I want to let you know that I have started an Incredible Memory Tribute fund in your name with the kind help of the Duchess of Kent Hospice. I have invited all the family and most of our friends to contribute memories and photographs. I look forward to seeing the final result. I would love you to take a look some time in the future so that you can see how much everyone cherished you. I suspect you will love seeing all the photographs and read all the messages and thoughts that friends and family have posted.

Lastly thank you for being you. You can be proud of yourself my sweetheart.

Remember we love you deeply. Hope to catch up with you soon.

Daddy and Denny.