Dad was born one of four brothers in 1934

At the young age of 14 he started his 7 year shipwright apprenticeship, working with Mum’s brother John, so through John, Dad meet Mum.

After completing his apprenticeship Dad started his National Service, becoming engaged to Mum before leaving England in 1956. He served in the RAF and was based in Aden in Egypt.

On finishing his National Service in 1958 Dad married Mum and returned to working in the docks.

When the docks closed Dad decided to train to be an Occupational Therapy Technician. By working alongside theatre surgeons he helped so many injured people, making designer splints. He also specialized in making supporting splints for babies and young children born with bone deficiencies.

Dad then moved to Kent Social Services, altering homes for the disabled and infirm to allow them their independence and, at the Brasted workshop, he gave disabled people the chance to learn carpentry skills.

In 1990 Dad decided to join Mum, managing Berry Pomery Rest Home. Here he enhanced many people’s lives in their autumn years.

On retiring he became more involved here at S. George’s. He loved looking after and serving on the altar. Ask any member of the congregation how fussy he was about his altar candles. He felt so proud to receive his silver St. Stephen’s medal for his long altar service.

Mum and Dad have 4 children, 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Dad loved his family and enjoyed seeing them all with their extended families having fun.

And even throughout his long illness he never lost this sense of fun, laughing when we had to turn off his highly flammable oxygen supply to enable the candles on his birthday cake to be safely lit.

Before writing this I asked Teresa, John and Helen about their special memories of Dad.

However there are so many cherished good times that it’s hard to single them out.

But we remember a great Dad who could fix or make anything from anything with anything and salvaged skip material was usually involved.

Being such a talented, caring and loving man, he has left a huge footprint on so many hearts and we now have a choice; we can cry, feel empty and keep looking back or we can do what he would want, smile because he has lived, open our eyes and see all the good he has left, love and go on.

The collection from family and friends in memory of  Bernard raised £560 for St. Wilfrid’s Hospice.