It`s Father`s Day this Sunday, as most will know. I thought I'd take
this opportunity to write a short tribute to my Dad, Ian Garner, who's
picture currently graces the top right hand corner of GBB.
Dad was born in January 1951, in Maidstone, Kent, to proud parents Dawn
and Reginald. In a cruel turn of fate, he was to inherit his Mum's pale
skin colour and ginger hair, characteristics he would later pass on to
his daughter, Trudi. I don't know so much about Dad's childhood, except
that he was never a huge fan of school. I remember Nan telling us many
times of the story of Dad `running away` from school (we say 'bunking
off' in England) and hiding in the garden shed, only to be spotted by
one of Nan's friends as he darted past the kitchen window.
Friend "Does your Ian not have school today then Dawn?"
Nan/Dawn "Yes, he does, why...?"
Friend "Well, I just saw him run past the house and go into the garden
shed..."
There followed the inevitable reprimand at home, and then again at
school.
Dad was not much interested in ball sports when he was younger, although
he does claim to have played rugby at Maidstone Grammar School for Boys.
He was more interested in cars and motorbikes, and would eventually
become quite serious about racing motorbikes.
Obviously, I was not around at this time, so my knowledge of Dad in his
youth comes from Nan's recollections, and various old photos. I remember
seeing one picture of my Dad, in his teens, on a beach, and he was,
bizarrely enough, sporting a skinhead. I suppose he must have been 17 or
18, but I'm not sure.
What else to say about Dad? He and my Mum had known each other since
they were kids, got married young, had their first child, my sister
Trudi, shortly afterwards, in 1970, then I came along in 1973. My Dad
worked at Chatham Dockyard when he left school, and tells interesting
stories of cockroaches the size of small cats on the ships.
The Dockyard closed down, and my Dad then did various other jobs (excuse
the lack of detail - remember, I wasn't born at this point!)
My first memory of something to do with my Dad's job was when he was
made redundant from his job as a night watchman. He will be the first to
admit that the job was not the most taxing one he has ever had. In fact,
shortly after he started working there, he bought a portable black and
white TV so that he could stay awake at night! I made a card saying
'sorry you have been made redundant', with a picture of Dad holding a
letter saying something like 'we don't need you anymore' or 'you are
redundant' or something similar! I must have been 7 or 8 years old (any
family reading - feel free to correct any factual errors)
Anyway, my parents split up and then divorced in 1983 (I think). I
remember very clearly the night my Mum told us that she was going to
live with someone else. At school the next day, or a couple of days
later, in Mrs Vinten's class, I broke down in tears, and she comforted
me by engulfing me in her many layers of fat.
Back to my Dad. He was around 30 years old, and was now in sole charge
of two young children on the brink of puberty. My Mum had been working
for a few years, so he had been fairly actively involved in the running
of the household, cleaning and cooking and whatever. But now he had to
do it all on his own, and provide for us both at the same time. Now,
having never had 2 kids, I am not sure what it was like, but I do
remember him trying his hardest to make sure that we could have clothes
and shoes and go on school trips like all the other kids. Dad had 2, and
at times 3 jobs, simultaneously in order to make sure that he could
provide for me and Trudi.
There's nothing I can say or do that will express my respect and
admiration for my Dad and what he did for us at that time. I know he
gave up a lot, and I'd just like to say a very big, public THANKS.
Obviously my Dad's life did not stop with the divorce. He was lucky
enough to find another woman willing to put up with him, and he and
Marlene have been together for many years now. He started running
marathons, and raised some money for a bone marrow charity. He doesn't
run at the moment, but I am still impressed that he had enough
dedication and willpower to run 26 miles 3 or 4 times.
Dad has begun a new stage of his life as a grandfather. Trudi has 3
boys, who all enjoy the time they spend with Dad and Marlene. If all
goes according to plan, there will shortly be a half-yellow addition to
Dad's collection of grandchildren! If I can be as good a father as my
Dad has been, I will feel that I have done a good job.
Finally, I'd just like to list a few of Dad's favourite things (in no
particular order):
1)The Beatles
2)Linda Lusardi (a large-breasted former topless model)
3)Kawasaki motorcycles
4)Norton motorcycles
5)Most other motorcycles
6)Motorcycle racing - road racing, grass track and speedway
7)Hi-tech toys - stereo equipment, DVD equipment, cameras etc
8)Gillingham football club
9)The countryside
10)Chocolate
11)Cheese
12)Most kinds of rock/pop music - especially British stuff like The
Eurythmics, early Oasis. NO rap
12)DIY?