Just like that…..after nine and a half decades, my dad departed these shores….

All I could think of was the painting by Casper David Friedrich of 1835…..The Stages of Life.

The painting is set on a sea shore and shows an older man, with his back to the viewer, he is walking towards a family group of two adults and two children. The five people are on a rocky outcrop looking down on a coastline. There are five ships in the bay below each at a different distance from the shore. The people are all different ages, children, adults and an elderly man show us the various stages of life. The painting is an allegorical reference to life and the passing of time. The ships show us life as a journey or a voyage whilst the people show us the various stages of human life. The older gentleman is at the end of his journey as he walks with his stick, whilst the children playing are at the beginning of their journey.

The painter represents himself as the old man coming to the end of his journey.

Here’s what I wrote about my dad…..

A few words on Dad’s sparkle and magic…….from me – Janet, Derek’s eldest daughter…. 

Dad was a special person, he sprinkled smiles wherever he went.

Kind, generous and always, always he had time to chat – sometimes too much time to chat.

He loved people and he loved companionship. 

When Sarah and I were children he was, by far, the most popular dad in Birkdale.

He’d appear at children’s parties with presents, games and dancing, always dancing.

Sarah and I still remember the box of trolls distributed to our friends as a ridiculously generous going-home present. Our friends never forgot that!

Dad taught Sarah and I to look at the night sky, and he’d point out The Plough, Orion’s Belt and The Morning Star (Venus).

When he was at sea The Morning Star was the key to navigation he’d explain.

We were brought up on a diet of Swallows and Amazons and Peter Pan we’d look at the sky and imagine Peter and Wendy flying through the inky blackness. 

We’d imagine it was us.

Dad inspired us to do whatever we wanted to do and just like Peter Pan he never wanted to grow up.

Safe travels Dad – we’ll miss you – just remember……………… in the words of JM Barrie………….

“Second star to the right and straight on ’til morning.”

We love you Dad and we’ll miss you.

4th Sept, 2026