Dad was his usual stubborn, straight-talking self, when he fell asleep for the last time. In the morning he had been reading/skimming the newspaper looking for the football results of Nottingham Forest – they lost.

He was totally aware and fully orientated right to the end when the Consultant on call spoke to Dad with Grant and I present. Dad said in his usual straight talking manner that we've all grown to love and respect, ‘Let's not beat around the bush. I’m not going to get over this so give me a couple of pills and I’ll just pop off and take this mask off.’ To which I replied ‘It doesn’t quite work that way, Dad.’

So, the mask was taken off and he fell asleep, just to wake up later and say ‘Have I gone yet?' And, when I said ‘No Dad’ his reply was ‘Oh, just let me go,’ a little more firmly than that, as you can imagine. He then dropped off to sleep with Grant and I by his side and died peacefully an hour later.

He will be sadly missed by all all of his family and his many friends.