In Loving Memory of Granddad Bate

When I started to write down the things that made Granddad such a special person in his Grandchildrens’ lives, it became pretty clear that while this is a very sad occasion, as we mourn the passing of a man that we loved very much, this would also be an occasion where we will all share a laugh and a smile, because it is impossible to think of granddad without feeling a sense of joy and happiness. That’s what he was all about. Most of our greatest childhood memories involve granddad, because he was always there to share in them, always there to cheer us on, always there to make us laugh, and always there to love us more than anything else in the world. I don’t think I ever saw him without a big infectious smile on his face, and I certainly never heard him say a bad word about anyone. He just loved life, he loved his family and he loved his friends.

His family was always so important to him, and he loved and cherished every moment that he spent with his grandkids. I can remember the sense of utter jubilation that I would feel when Mum would announce that Nan and Granddad are coming to stay for the week, and even though he was older and wiser than us, we knew he felt the same way. Granddad took his greatest pleasure from spending time with the people he loved, and we all felt the same about him.

It is hard to think of Granddad without talking about his passion for DIY. But as I thought about this more, it really wasn’t the actual DIY activity that gave him so much pleasure, but rather the knowledge that he doing something to help someone he loved. When they would come to stay with us, I would regularly return home from school to find the landscape had been significantly changed, and there were shelves in places where I didn’t realize it was possible to put a shelf. Where some people choose to express themselves through Art & Graffiti, Granddad left his mark on our world through shelves and self-assembly furniture.

Daniel and I were fortunate to have spent several Christmases with Nan and Granddad, and he really loved that time of year. He was just like one of the grandkids really, sneaking under the Christmas tree to squeeze his presents, and waking up at 5am in the morning to “make the tea” (which provided ample opportunity for some more present squeezing). He would sit there watching the people he loved open their presents, sharing in their joy with a big smile on his face, but the second that somebody opened a package with the words “assembly required” blazoned across it, his eyes would light up and he would hoist the package over his shoulder and head off to the garage for a period of light hammering. Whenever I think of Christmas, I think of playing with my new toys in the living room, the smell of turkey wafting through the house, and the sound of distant hammering accompanied by Nan’s voice saying “Will you put that down ‘Arry and come and eat your dinner?!”

Granddad, you have brought a tremendous amount of love, joy and laughter into our lives, as I know we have into yours. Your Grandchildren love you and thank you for all of the wonderful memories you have given to us. May you rest in peace, safe in the knowledge that we will always remember you with a smile, rather than sadness, because we know that you would only ever want to bring happiness into our lives. We all hope that one day, we can be as wonderful a grandparent to our grandkids, as you have been to us. We love you.