Missing you and thinking of you today Dad - lots of love and big hugs from us all xxxx

It was hard entertaining Grandad. Nanny and Me was having a good giggle at you

Grandad

Where do I begin. I absolutely loved our conversations on the telephone even if you couldn’t hear me too well.  However Grandad  giving Auntie Melanie the grief was not good but I couldn’t help laughing. I am going to miss your sense of humour and conversations. Also loved when you visited the UK and joined in the christening celebration. Your great grandchildren loved their visit to Disney especially when you came and seen us all. Now we have lost making new memories but will treasure the old.  Miss you Grandad and we all love you so much. Rest in peace. All our love Amanda, Sophie-Rose, Hannah and Callum.  Xxxx

From Mike I’ve heard a lot about you and sorry we didn’t get to meet. Rest in peace

John you will be greatly missed by everyone who loved you and knew you. It was always lovely to see you when you came over to the UK for a visit.
May you rest in peace
Pauline xx

Part Two - Memories of Dad

Another random memory of dad from my childhood is of him making a bed for one of my dolls out of a wooden tomato box!  It was pretty good - multi-skilled and multi-talented!

Dad was very passionate about his beloved Southampton football team and supported them throughout all of their ups and down over the years – at times, and for good reason, he wasn’t happy with their results and performance – I recall many a conversation when dad would quite freely voice his opinion on the team’s overall performance, especially the Managers and Players!!

One thing you can definitely say about Dad is that he never shied away from work – he worked hard for his family and would support them in whatever way he could.  Definitely and without a doubt a family man through and through.  What an achievement to have reached the grand age of 95+ years, although of late Dad’s health hasn’t been that great and he’s  given us many a scare – I fondly referred to him as being  a cat with nine lives – he certainly had a full and as good a life as anyone could wish for.  God Bless you Dad, all my love, Sharon xxxx

Part One - Memories of Dad ….. oh my, where to begin!!!

What I’ll always remember about Dad is his sense of humour and his mischievous grin/smile – he always enjoyed a good bit of banter with the family.  Dad liked the simple things in life which included nothing more than a good plate of food!

Although Dad worked hard he made time for family outings – one such outing when we had been on a picnic involved Dad driving into the back of Uncle Bob’s car, whilst I was handing him a cake from the back of the car – oooops!!  Thankfully he was driving quite slowly at the time!

One of Dad’s jobs was as a lorry driver – I recall being allowed to go with him on one of these day trips, where a lady at the company he made the delivery to asked if I would like to do some photocopying for her, which I did, and she gave me 2 shillings – pre decimalisation sterling – and was a lot of money in the late 1950s/early 1960s!!

Another story relating to Dad’s driving is when he hired a car on one of his trips back to England and sometimes didn’t negotiate the roundabouts correctly, having been used to driving in America – it was a bit hair raising, however, he did get the hang of it - we all survived and got to our destinations in one piece!

Another incident with my Dad and me was on an escalator at Miami airport when we had a little tumble and landed in a heap together, deary me – thankfully no damage or broken bones for either of us!!  Hmmm, there seems to be a bit of a theme with some memories.

Memories of Dad (part 2)

In the 1970’s Dad helped me buy my first car.  Or what I thought was my first car! The plan was he would teach me to drive.  Rather foolishly, I had forgotten the trauma of the time when he was teaching Mum.  Dad’s own car broke down a few weeks later and before you could blink an eye he had requisitioned mine. I never got the lessons, nor the car back. He is forgiven!

It was at this time he worked for the Solent Carpet Company. His main job was as their maintenance man.  However he had what you might call a ‘second job’.  He was put in charge of Sports & Social Activities.  This involved managing both their cricket and football teams, and he was to become something of a legend organising disco nights which were extremely popular and well attended (often over 200 staff and partners).

Dad was a popular man.  He never seemed to stop to take breath.   He always worked hard and it was in his nature to help others.   He had an air of invincibility about him, and packed a lot into his 95 + years.  These and all my other memories of him are good ones.

Bye Dad, and thank you.

Memories of Dad (part 1)


My earliest memory is Dad enjoying himself as a crew member travelling on Liners (now known as Cruise Ships of course) with the Union Castle Line.  Mostly he went to South Africa and USA.  I was too young to really remember this, but I have fond memories from seeing photographs, particularly those showing him dressed up as a nurse to form part of the ships entertainment team.

That was in the 1950’s. After he ‘gave up the sea’ he worked first in a shipyard as a rigger and then moved on to do maintenance work as a decorator.  I have vivid memories of him working on a neighbouring house and falling from a ladder one day.  At the time there was great concern that he had broken his back, he was off work for some time, fortunately he made a good recovery.  

He loved sport.  Especially Football (Soccer to you) and I recall in 1964 he took me to my first game to watch Southampton.  It was a wonderful moment in time as the ‘Saints’ won by beating Rotherham 6 – 1.  Dad loved his football club and he passed that love on to me.

In the mid/late 1960’s we moved to Scotland.  There were some scary moments such as the time we survived the ravages of an 110 mph gale/storm, which probably prepared him in later life for the hurricanes he experienced in Miami. But even more scary than that were the days when he took Mum out for her first taste of driving lessons.  It was definitely hair raising, crossed fingers and edge of seat stuff with a bit of tension between Dad as driving instructor and Mum as pupil!  Lets just say he wasn’t cut out to be a driving instructor! 

One regret I have is that in later life I never thanked him properly for those years in Scotland.  As I reflect on this now, I realise those were some of the most important years that helped shaped my path in life and I will always be grateful to him for this.

(end part 1)

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

William Henry Duff

21 avril 1928 – 14 décembre 2023

Kraeer Funeral Home & Cremation Center

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