It’s with a heavy heart I write this as I find it’s very hard to find the words to express how much my Dad meant to me. I can’t quite believe that someone with so much zest for life as dad had has gone. He was the “Captain of the Ship” and now it feels rudderless. I really looked up to him. He was always making plans of where to go next and being ill at the end of his life didn’t stop him trying to make them either! He was truly amazing . He had two lives in one really.Both of them very happy . A life well lived travelling in his later years with Janet to many wonderful far flung places such as Borneo,India and South Africa. What more could you ask .... he had the best time.I do believe my father has now gone onto his next big adventure ordering oysters en route and maybe a wee whisky. I’ll never forget the laughs we had and your teasing nature .I think I might just have inherited that from you!. I will miss you so much. Life will never be the same again without you in it..... Love you Dad Jo ( Fanny Anne ) ❤️ Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Grandad, I could write a million words about the amazing Grandad you have been to us all but instead I want to write about our last goodbye. As goodbyes go, ours was pretty special. I can still feel your soft hand holding mine as I proudly showed you the diamond ring on my finger. It definitely had the ‘Grandad seal of approval’. After all, I do get my expensive taste from you. I couldn’t wait to tell you that I was engaged and show you all the pictures and videos of how it all happened. You loved looking through them all. I was sat next to you as you laid in bed in the lounge and we spoke about what you would wear to my wedding, it was top of your agenda to sort your outfit being the style icon of the family. After a few conversations we decided on you wearing a blush waistcoat and one of your dapper hats and bow ties to match. Sounded great, very Grandad! I made you giggle when telling you about some of the venues I was going to visit and how they weren’t in the most desirable sounding areas, we quickly decided maybe these weren’t the venues for me! It felt so good to make you laugh. Conversation turned to honeymoons and holidays which is something that we were both passionate about, adventure and travel. I loved hearing all your amazing stories of all the amazing places you had been. It was a wonderful conversation, filled with happiness and laughter and I know that next year, at my wedding, you will be there, in your finest outfit with a blush waistcoat. Sometimes the smallest moments become the biggest. Our goodbye was the biggest, one filled with love and laughter and a moment I will forever be grateful for. I will miss you so much, my wonderful Grandad. With love, forever Your Granddaughter Hannah x

It’s a rarity to come across someone who combines kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity with a sense of humour: Ray was such a rarity. I was introduced to him by Janet some 25 years ago shortly before they married and I thought this is a ‘good’ man. He welcomed me to both Sheering and Whissonsett - when he didn’t have to - and without doubt Crawford House became my home-from-home over the last two decades. Quite simply my life has been enriched by knowing him and I suspect I am not alone in that sentiment. Margaret